Is JJ Redick still a candidate for the Los Angeles Lakers head coaching job? It was not long ago when it appeared that Redick was the favorite for the position. A report later surfaced that said the Lakers are pursuing UConn men's basketball head coach Dan Hurley. Although it appears that Hurley is the favorite for now, Redick is not out of the conversation, according to Jovan Buha of The Athletic.
“Redick, considered the front-runner for weeks, remains a viable candidate, according to league sources,” Buha wrote in a recent article.
The Lakers have been searching for a head coach who can remain with the team for years to come. There has been much transition in that sense over the past few years as Los Angeles searches for the answer. The Lakers are hopeful that whoever they end up hiring, whether it is Hurley, Redick, or someone else, will be able to lead the Lakers for the long-term future.
Anything can happen, but it seems as if Hurley is the favorite while Redick still has an opportunity to land the position. Both men have had different journeys to where they are now and they are interesting NBA head coaching candidates.
Dan Hurley vs. JJ Redick
Hurley has certainly found success with UConn. He led the Huskies to back-to-back championships in 2023 and 2024. He also won the Naismith College Coach of the Year Award in 2024. It is not surprising by any means to see NBA teams such as the Lakers showing interest in him.
He played basketball in college and began coaching high school basketball in 2001. After displaying impressive coaching prowess at the high school level, Hurley took his talents to college. He coached at Wagner College and the University of Rhode Island before landing the UConn job in 2018.
Redick, meanwhile, does not have the same coaching experience. He did play in the NBA from 2006-2021. He was a tremendous shooter in the NBA, as Redick shot 41.5 percent from beyond the arc for his career.
Redick has since entered the NBA media world since retiring from his playing career. He has his own podcast and also works as a broadcaster and analyst for ESPN.
Hurley and Redick will be fine if they do not become the Lakers next head coach. Hurley would likely remain at UConn in that scenario, while Redick could continue his journey in the NBA media world.
Lakers in need of a head coach
The Lakers need stability. In all reality, Los Angeles has not had that stability since Phil Jackson led the team. Sure, Frank Vogel led the Lakers to a championship in 2020. Since Jackson, however, the Lakers have not had a head coach spend more than four years with the team.
The Lakers may not find another Phil Jackson but it is clear they need someone who can help to develop a winning formula over an extended period of time. Moving on from one coach to another every few years is not a recipe for success.
Perhaps Dan Hurley or JJ Redick could be the solution for Los Angeles. Or maybe another head coaching candidate will emerge. Only time will tell, but it is Hurley who is seemingly in the driver's seat for the position at the moment.
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