Former NBA player JJ Redick was named as the new head coach for the Los Angeles Lakers last Thursday, putting an end to a head coaching search that was one of the most talked about topics in sports for weeks.
One reason Los Angeles’ search was such a talking point was because of their discussions with UConn men’s basketball head coach Dan Hurley. Who the Lakers targeted as their top candidate and offered a six-year, $70 million contract that Hurley eventually turned down to return to the Huskies.
The Lakers began interviews and discussions with Redick at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago prior to their pursuit of Hurley. And in his introductory press conference, Redick was honest about his emotions when rumors regarding Hurley began circulating.
“When the process was going on and we first met in Chicago, I was getting ready to call Game 1 of the NBA Finals when the Dan Hurley news broke. And Rob [Pelinka] was quick to call me, we had a great conversation,” Redick revealed. “During that whole four day period at no point was my ego or feelings hurt or bruised in any way.”
“Dan Hurley is a two-time national champion at UConn. I am a two-time 55 Swish League champion in the third and fourth-grade division,” Redick said getting a laugh out of the media. “Like I understood.”
Hurley is undoubtedly the best coach currently in men’s college basketball after leading the Huskies to back-to-back national championship wins. Fresh off of one of the most dominant and impressive NCAA Tournament runs in college basketball history.
Redick on the other hand only has coaching experience with his son’s youth basketball teams. But his experience as a former player and an analyst makes him feel more than qualified to take over the reins of the Lakers. Especially given the existence of his passion and desire to coach now for the last few years.
“I just felt like this is this is what I’m supposed to be doing,” Redick said. “I brought it up, like I have zero coaching experience in the NBA, but I would argue that I’m very experienced. And it started 22 years ago when I went to Duke and I got to play for Coach K for four years, spent 15 years as a player (in the NBA).”
“Honestly, the last three years have been invaluable in preparing me for this moment, being able to connect to players talking them on the podcast. Being in coaching interviews with ESPN, calling games and analyzing the game in three different formats. All of that has helped prepare me to be an NBA head coach.”
Redick added that he’s spent the last year talking to different coaches and general managers across the league. Picking their brains and asking for their advice privately and publicly through his podcast and other media ventures, all with becoming a head coach in mind. A dream that now becomes a reality for one of the most recognizable brands in all of professional sports.
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