As the Los Angeles Lakers look to make changes to their coaching staff heading into next season, JJ Reddick continues to be a candidate that the team is seriously considering. The majority of the basketball world should be aware that the Lakers’ postseason aspirations ended quite abruptly this year.
The team ended up losing in the playoffs to the Denver Nuggets for the second year in a row. The Lakers managed to win just one game before being eliminated. Since there is always somebody who should be blamed, Darvin Ham was removed from his position as head coach.
While many fans did want Ham gone due to his questionable decisions, there is no denying that the Lakers are now under pressure to find a suitable candidate. With that being said, one must wonder if JJ Reddick is truly the right person to take Ham’s job and coach the Lakers to a potential NBA championship.JJ Reddick displays good basketball knowledge and could help the Lakers
JJ Reddick was in the NBA until the 2020-2021 season and finished his career with the Dallas Mavericks. He established himself as an elite catch-and-shoot long-distance shooter and managed to earn the respect of various stars around him during his time in the league.
After retiring, JJ has turned into a member of the media but also has a good relationship with current players such as LeBron James and even hosts a podcast with the 4x NBA champion. Via his podcast and appearances as a sports analyst, JJ Reddick has made it clear that he has a strong personality to go along with a high basketball IQ.
Given he also has a good relationship with LeBron James and a sense of mutual respect, it would be fair to say that adding him as their new coach would convince King James to spend his final years in the league with the Lakers. However, one must also wonder if the team can truly win an NBA championship with JJ Reddick as their head coach.JJ Reddick has never coached an NBA team
At this point in time, there is no way to tell if JJ Reddick would be able to unlock the potential of the Los Angeles Lakers. While there have been a few coaches in NBA history such as Steve Kerr who have found success in their first attempt at coaching, it is quite rare and the majority of coaches are usually assistant coaches and have some form of experience before being given the main position.
This is the largest reason that will make the Lakers organization think twice about hiring JJ Reddick. Due to their narrow championship window, the team simply does not have the time to allow him to develop and get a taste for coaching. Moreover, bringing him on might not guarantee LeBron James’ continued career with the Lakers. In any case, fans are left wondering who the Lakers will end up hiring as their new head coach.