Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick is preparing for the 2024 – ’25 NBA season after playing an influential role in shaping the Lakers’ draft picks in 2024. While the front office is focused on improving the roster through NBA free agency, Redick has to get to work on assembling his first Lakers coaching staff.
Redick is in a very unique position, one that will require some assistance from others inside the organization. Because he has no NBA coaching experience, he has fewer connections in the coaching world to assemble a Lakers coaching staff. Furthermore, because of his lack of experience, Los Angeles must prioritize assistants with years of experience, including as a head coach.
With all of that in mind, let’s dive into the potential Lakers coaching staff under Redick.
Scott Brooks
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Placing an emphasis on experience, Scott Brooks would be a strong addition to the Lakers coaching staff. A California native, Brooks has been a coach since 2000 when he started his career with the Los Angeles Stars (ABA) followed by a stint with the Southern California Surf. He joined an NBA coaching staff in 2003 with the Denver Nuggets and has held some role at the highest level just about every year since.
Brooks, age 58, could provide Redick with years of head-coaching experience to lean on. He served as head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2008-’15 then had a stint with the Washington Wizards (2015-’21). Plus, Brooks is familiar with what it takes to work with superstars (Kevin Durant) and he has playoff experience, too.
Jacque Vaughn
David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Recent Lakers rumors have already made it clear that Jacque Vaughn is on the team’s radar. A native of Los Angeles, the 49-year-old began his coaching career with the San Antonio Spurs (2010-’12) as an assistant under Gregg Popovich. He became a head coach soon after with the Orlando Magic (2012-’15) before getting a second chance at the gig after the Brooklyn Nets promoted him from assistant to interim coach and then gave him the full-time gig in 2022.
As with Brooks, Vaughn can provide another veteran coach who knows how to work relationships with star players (Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving). Vaughn also has the unique background of becoming an NBA head coach at a young age, with his own lessons able to help Redick in his first season. If Los Angeles can’t get Brooks, Vaughn should be the next target.
Jared Dudley
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The Lakers coaching staff is no different than other teams, with familiarity and relationships helping dictate who gets hired. While Los Angeles would have to poach Jared Dudley from the Dallas Mavericks, his history with Redick makes him someone the Lakers should be going after. Dudley and Redick were teammates with the Los Angeles Clippers and the 38-year-old has been an assistant coach since the 2021 season. Plus, Dudley is another California native and while there’s some risk in taking a job with the Lakers there’s also considerable upside for Dudley which could accelerate his path to becoming a head coach.
As pointed out by Anthony Irwin of LakersDaily.com , Miles Simon has already proven his value to the Lakers. He has a background in player development, which Los Angeles is prioritizing more than ever before, plus he has valuable experience with this organization. Simon worked under both Frank Vogel and Luke Walton, gaining knowledge from two very different coaches. He then worked as the South Bay Lakers coach (2021-’23), before taking a job with the Phoenix Suns a year ago. The 48-year-old offers the experience the Lakers coaching staff needs and his track record in developing young players would be another added reason to hire him.
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