LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – The Los Angeles Lakers have honed in on JJ Redick as the leading candidate to become the team’s next head coach, sources from within the league and media industry have disclosed. While a final decision is yet to be made, the Lakers are reportedly moving closer to selecting Redick as their top choice in the ongoing search for a new head coach.
Over the past couple of weeks, the Lakers’ search has been primarily focused on Redick and Pelicans associate head coach James Borrego. Redick had a face-to-face meeting with Lakers officials three weeks ago, while Borrego underwent a second in-person interview with the team last week, with indications that the Lakers are impressed with him. Notably, Borrego and Lakers star Anthony Davis share a recent rapport, having overlapped briefly in New Orleans.
Redick, currently working as a media analyst and color commentator for the NBA Finals, is seen as a potential hire post-series, which commenced in Boston on Thursday night. The Lakers have also interviewed other candidates, including Celtics assistant Sam Cassell, Heat assistant Chris Quinn, Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori, and Nuggets assistant David Adelman.
Legendary former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski has emerged as an unofficial resource for the Lakers during the coaching search, providing valuable insights into the candidates and the organizational culture sought after by the franchise. Krzyzewski’s ties to the Lakers date back to 2004 when a recruitment attempt was made to hire him. Redick, who played under Krzyzewski at Duke, is viewed as a candidate who aligns with the characteristics the Lakers are looking for in their next head coach.
Sources close to the Lakers have expressed the organization’s strong interest in Redick, emphasizing his potential as a coach. Despite his lack of coaching experience in professional leagues, Redick’s extensive playing career, media presence, and recent podcast collaborations with LeBron James have elevated his visibility among the candidates. James, however, has reportedly stayed out of the Lakers’ coaching search process.
Redick’s 15-year NBA career spanned across six teams, with notable stints at the Orlando Magic and LA Clippers. Known for his sharpshooting skills, Redick maintained impressive career statistics, including a 41.5 percent 3-point shooting average, 44.7 percent field goal percentage, and 89.2 percent free-throw percentage.