JJ Redick has agreed to a four-year deal to become the Los Angeles Lakers’ head coach, according to ESPN. The Lakers, one of the NBA’s most historic franchises, with 17 championships, parted ways with coach Darvin Ham after just two seasons in May following a first-round playoff exit.
Redick has no coaching experience, but he spent 15 seasons in the league as a player from 2006 to 2021. The first seven years were spent with Orlando — which selected him at No. 11 overall out of Duke — before time with the Los Angeles Clippers, the Philadelphia 76ers, the New Orleans Pelicans, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Dallas Mavericks. Redick was known as one of the league’s top 3-point shooters, hitting 41.5% of his career attempts.
He joined ESPN as a basketball commentator after he retired from the league in September 2021.
Redick, 39, is also recognized as one of the best college basketball players in history. The Blue Devils’ all-time leading scorer (2,769 points), he averaged 19.9 points per game over four seasons. Redick was named the national college player of the year in 2006 and was a two-time All-American, a two-time ACC Player of the Year and a two-time ACC Tournament MVP.
The Lakers, despite having stars in LeBron James and Anthony Davis, have failed to meet expectations in recent seasons. They have made it out of the first round of the playoffs only one time since they won the NBA championship in 2020.
Los Angeles reportedly offered University of Connecticut coach Dan Hurley a six-year, $70 million deal last week, according to ESPN, but he declined so he could stay in college basketball.
