Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick wants to be in as coach for the team for the long haul. In an exclusive interview with the Los Angeles Times and Lakers beat writer Dan Woike, he noted how he doesn’t want to move. In addition, Redick also added how he would love to coach the Lakers for ’15 to 20 years.’ Let’s dive into Redick’s comments and how they impact the Lakers.
Lakers HC JJ Redick Committed to a Long Future in LA
“I’m not moving again. I’m not moving my kids again,” Redick told The Los Angeles Times. “We’re in it for the long haul. I would love to be the Lakers coach for the next 15 to 20 years. If I’m not the Lakers coach, I’m in it for the long haul in L.A.”
As things stand, no one would bat an eye if that were the case. Redick has been everything and more for the Lakers. While all eyes are on the big three—Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves—Redick is pulling all the strings.
Lakers Loved Redick Despite His Lack of Coaching Experience
The former player turned podcaster turned broadcaster turned coach was the favorite to become the coach last offseason, and L.A. appeared to have hit the nail on the head. Redick was hired on the heels of yet another disappointing season for the Lakers. Last season, L.A. lost in five games in the first round to the Denver Nuggets. It was the second time in as many seasons that the Nuggets ended the Lakers’ season.
The Lakers desperately needed a coaching position change. From the start, Redick was viewed as the overwhelming favorite. Some were on board from the start, and others were a bit more hesitant. It was reasonable to feel like the latter.
While Redick is a brilliant basketball-mind, he had no previous coaching experience. The only coaching experience he had was coaching his sons in youth basketball. Outside of that, he had zero experience, so it makes sense why some were not fans of the Lakers appointing someone to coach one of the best franchises in all of the sports. Nonetheless, so far, he has proved the doubters wrong. Redick has led the Lakers to a solid season. It has been filled with ups and downs, but L.A. is confident they have the right person for the job.
Is Coaching a Liability in This Year’s Playoffs?
The Lakers currently hold the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference with a 45-29 record, setting up a potential first-round matchup against the fifth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies—a team they just defeated on the road Saturday. While navigating the playoffs as a lower seed isn’t ideal for Redick and his squad, having James and Doncic on the court always gives them a legitimate shot.
Expectations are always sky-high for the Lakers, making this playoff run a crucial test not just for the team but also for Redick and his coaching staff. While he has shown promise as a coach, the postseason will reveal whether he can elevate his team under pressure or if his inexperience will be exposed. That’s the question many will have despite the Lakers’ roster limitations. Nonetheless, Redick’s job security doesn’t appear to be in question, even if they fall in the first round. The belief is that this is just the beginning, with expectations that Redick will guide the franchise to multiple deep playoff runs—and possibly even championship success—in the years to come.
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