Former NBA sharpshooter JJ Redick may be lacking experience for his role as new Lakers coach but he's finding ways to make up for it. During a recent chat on the Lake Show podcast, team insider Mike Bresnahan spoke on JJ's newly built coaching staff and what we can expect from them going into the new season.
"The rumors are true, JJ is a very hard-working and intense guy. And he's ready to go," said Bresnahan. "It's kind of funny because I'm like 'Yeah you still got a few weeks until training camp.' And this is off-camera stuff but he wants training camp to start next Monday. I asked him about his staff and he said 'You know who I wanted? A bunch of sickos. He wants these assistant coaches to work and grind. And they've been in there all day every day from what I've heard."
JJ's lack of coaching experience was seen as a major red flag for concerned Lakers fans but he's gone out of his way to hire a cast of experienced and capable assistants. Both of the top assistants have had lead roles in the past (Scott Brooks and Nate McMillan) while Bob Beyer, Greg St. Jean, Lindsey Harding, and Beau Levesque each hold a unique area of expertise. Redick, of course, will be calling the shots but he will be joined by some of the brightest minds in the business.
After a disastrous finish last season, the Lakers made the decision to part ways with Darvin Ham, who took over head coaching responsibilities from Frank Vogel years ago. While Ham enjoyed some initial success with the Lakers , the prosperity was short-lived and it became clear through statements from the players that he had lost the locker room.
The Lakers began a full coaching search in May and after a failed attempt to lure UConn men's coach Dan Hurley, they settled on Redick for a 4-year, $32 million deal. Before becoming a coach, and an analyst at ESPN, Redick was a player for several teams over his career, including the Clippers, 76ers, and the Orlando Magic. In 15 seasons he averaged 12.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game on 44.7% shooting.
While not a star in the league, Redick played a big role on several high-level teams, and his play on the perimeter opened up the floor for many of his teammates. The Lakers are hoping that this experience will earn Redick respect in the locker room but many ( including Lakers legend Shaquille O'Neal ) doubt that he can get his players to fall line line right away.
In truth, it may take time for Redick to get the results he's expecting. As he learns and grows on the job, he will slowly learn more about how to maximize his guys and what he needs to say in order to get them locked in on the mission at hand. With so much at stake for the Lakers, they cannot afford for things to go wrong.
To get the franchise back in a state of contention, Redick must speak to every Lakers player and implement a game plan that helps them keep up with the Western elites (teams like the Nuggets, Timberwolves, and Oklahoma City Thunder ). A stacked coaching staff will certainly help Redick and the Lakers achieve that goal and it seems they are eager to get to work.
Related: Magic Johnson Urges Lakers Fans To Be Patient With New Head Coach JJ Redick
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