The Los Angeles Lakers’ appointment of former NBA player JJ Redick as their new head coach stands out for multiple reasons, marking a significant departure from conventional NBA hiring practices.
Firstly, Redick joins an exclusive and very small group of individuals, becoming just the 13th person since 1990 to be appointed as a non-interim head coach without any prior coaching background.
This group represents a mere fraction—less than 5%—of all NBA coaching hires over the last three decades. The majority of NBA teams traditionally opt for candidates with more established coaching résumés. Specifically, 55% of head coaching vacancies are typically filled by individuals with previous NBA head coaching experience.
Additionally, 35% of new hires have served in other coaching capacities within the NBA, such as assistant or interim coaches.
The remaining 10% generally includes those who have gained coaching experience either overseas or in the collegiate ranks, such as Dan Hurley from UConn, who was also considered for the Lakers’ position.
Interestingly, despite speculation about player influence on team decisions, reports indicate that LeBron James did not play a role in Redick’s hiring. This emphasizes a possible shift in the Lakers’ approach, focusing perhaps on a fresh perspective rather than solely on traditional experience.
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At 39, Redick is set to be one of the youngest head coaches in the league next season.
He ranks as the fifth youngest, younger only than figures such as the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Mark Daigneault, the Utah Jazz’s Will Hardy, and Joe Mazzulla of the 2023-24 champion Boston Celtics.
This trend towards younger coaches contrasts with the long-standing average age of NBA head coaches, which has consistently hovered between 49 and 52 years. Currently, the average age is 50.
Redick’s appointment reflects a broader evolution in the pathways to becoming an NBA head coach, challenging the traditional trajectory and perhaps signaling a new era of leadership styles and strategies in the league.
