As reported by The Athletic’s Shams Charania on The Pat McAfee Show, former Los Angeles Clippers sharpshooter JJ Redick is now the leading candidate to become the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers following the dismissal of Darvin Ham.
Charania noted that Redick is widely regarded as the frontrunner for the position among NBA insiders.
Despite previous reports that Lakers star LeBron James would not be involved in the coaching selection process, it’s worth noting that James has a close relationship with Redick.
The two have played against each other for 15 seasons and currently co-host a podcast together.
Redick, a former Duke standout and renowned perimeter shooter, has remained active in NBA circles since retiring in 2021, working as an ESPN analyst and hosting his own podcast.
While James is under contract through next season, there’s speculation that he might leverage his influence to secure a trade to a team that drafts his son, Bronny.
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However, Charania has reported that James is not currently pursuing such a move, though this could change after the NBA Draft.
In addition to Redick, the Lakers are considering several NBA assistants for the coaching role, including Sam Cassell, Micah Nori, David Adelman, and James Borrego, according to multiple reports.
Darvin Ham, who led the Lakers to the Western Conference finals just a year ago in his first season as head coach, was relieved of his duties due to the team’s underwhelming performance this season.
Despite finishing with a winning record and winning the NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament, the Lakers struggled in the playoffs, ultimately being swept out by the Denver Nuggets.
Ham faced criticism for his game management, tactical adjustments, and player rotations, particularly during a slump in which the team went 3-10 after the In-Season Tournament.
This failure to secure a higher seed in the playoffs ultimately led to Ham’s dismissal.
The Lakers will now seek their fourth head coach since James joined the team in 2018, with the new hire becoming the eighth head coach in 14 seasons since the departure of Hall of Famer Phil Jackson in 2011.
