When someone signs on to lead a high-profile franchise that is desperately trying to stay in title contention in an absurdly loaded conference, they will be faced with a myriad of questions and constant media scrutiny. That is what awaits new Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick in his first season at the helm.
Beyond the regular hurdles that are lined up in such a demanding environment, there is one big concern many have about the former NBA shooting guard and ESPN analyst's transition to the sidelines– lack of coaching experience. Dropping a couple of F-bombs in his introductory press conference might only fuel this worry for some fans and pundits.
A two-time NBA champion and fellow Atlantic Coast Conference alum is chiming in on the debate and explains why the focus is on the wrong thing.
“You think about it — basketball is the only place where… I mean, how many years did JJ Redick play? 12 years or something like that?” Kenny Smith of “Inside The NBA” told Scoop B Radio with host, Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson.
“He could play 12 years and they could still say that doesn’t count as ‘experience.' He’s been in multiple practices. He’s been in multiple places. He understands the dynamics of the game. Can you lead? That’s the difference between only being able to coach. So no, I'm not one of those that say that he doesn’t have the experience because he’s played in the NBA for 12 years. If I worked at IBM for 12 years and I quit, they’re going to make me a Senior Advisor for every company in the world!”
Although Smith's analogy might be a bit tenuous, he clearly believes that prior coaching experience is not the foremost determining factor for a first-year HC, especially given the 15 seasons Redick spent in an NBA locker room. Moreover, jumping from the broadcast booth to an authority role has produced successful results before, most recently for Steve Kerr and the Golden State Warriors.
But it is different when a green coach enters the lion's den that is the Lakers. Redick is being tasked with commanding the respect of multiple stars and helping this legendary franchise return to being a focal point of the championship conversation. Regardless of experience, he will need a ton of mental strength.
JJ Redick looks to take Lakers to the next level
Redick, who shot an outstanding 41.5 percent from 3-point range during his NBA career, has garnered many supporters due to his modern view of the game. He deftly breaks down plays and seems to understand how to interact with current players. He thrived on the podcast circuit and recently partnered up with LeBron James, which is a reason why plenty of fans think he was hired for the head coaching job.
The former Duke star is not an overnight sensation, however. His stock has been rising for some time, as was evident by the multiple teams he had been linked to since last offseason. Nevertheless, Redick will still not be given much leeway. With James and Anthony Davis on the roster (the former will likely be a free agent but is expected to re-sign), prosperity is supposed to follow year after year. A first-round sweep, even at the hands of the then-reigning champion Denver Nuggets, is not going to cut it.
Of course, JJ Redick is definitely not the only one under the microscope. James, Davis, and obviously the Lakers brass are all going to be skewered to varying degrees if the team does not rise to the upper tier of the West. After failing to persuade Dan Hurley to leave UConn for Hollywood, owner Jeanie Buss and general manager Rob Pelinka will surely incur the wrath of LA if this move does not work out.
Redick does check off multiple boxes, though, so this could prove to be a momentous hire. According to Kenny Smith, his ability to excel on the Lakers will come down to the professional relationships he builds with his two top guys.
“So, he has the knowledge but does he have the leadership qualities to lead a guy like LeBron James and AD?” he said. “That’s going to be his biggest challenge.” The grind begins now.
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