JJ Redick and LeBron James have decided to put their collaborative podcast, “Mind the Game,” on hold following the announcement that Redick has been named the new head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.
This development marks a significant transition for Redick from media personality back to the basketball forefront.
During a press conference on Monday, June 24, the 40-year-old Redick informed reporters that his new role as head coach would necessitate a step back from all media production activities, including podcasting. “For the time being, and hopefully it’s a very, very long time, I am excommunicated from the content space,” Redick explained, as reported by ESPN. “So there will be no podcast… I’m done with podcasting for now.”
Redick, a former NBA player who spent 15 seasons with teams including the Orlando Magic and the Dallas Mavericks, had become known for his sharpshooting, finishing his career with a notable 1,950 three-pointers.
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Following his retirement in 2021, Redick transitioned to broadcasting, joining ESPN as an on-air sports analyst. His move into coaching comes shortly after he left his position at ESPN in early June.
The decision to appoint Redick, who has no prior head coaching experience, as the Lakers’ new head coach has been met with mixed reactions. However, Redick remains undeterred and focused on his goals for the team. “I really don’t give a f— about what some critics might say,” he told reporters. “I want to coach the Lakers. I want to become a great coach in the NBA. And I want to win championships. And I want my players to maximize their careers. That’s all I f—ing care about.”
Redick’s podcast with LeBron James had offered fans a unique glimpse into the basketball insights of two NBA veterans.
The show, which launched on March 19, was LeBron’s first venture into podcasting, while Redick had previous experience with podcasting endeavors such as “The Old Man and the Three” and “The Chronicles of Redick.”
Despite the suspension of their podcast, Redick reassured fans that there would be a proper send-off episode before the upcoming NBA season in October. “We’ll do something when I have a breather from what we have coming up,” he stated, indicating a busy schedule ahead with his new coaching responsibilities. “I’m going to be drinking out of a firehose for the next month, but at some point, we’ll just do something for all of the people that listened, and we’ll have a small little video.”
This pause in their podcasting partnership is a poignant moment for both Redick and James as they navigate this new chapter in their careers, with Redick stepping into a significant leadership role and James continuing his illustrious NBA journey.
