Who Needs Experience

By Mike Rifkin

On Thursday the Los Angeles Lakers coaching search ended with the hiring of JJ Redick. Redick played 15 seasons in the NBA for the Magic, Bucks, Clippers, 76ers, Pelicans, and Mavericks. Redick worked as an NBA analyst for ESPN the past couple of seasons. 

Why would a franchise like the Lakers who are championship or bust every year turn to a guy who has never coached before? They can talk about how impressive Redick was during the interview process or how they had to pivot after Danny Hurley turned them down. But they went the Redick route because of his relationship with LeBron James, the two have a podcast together. James has a few days before what to decide with his contract he can opt in or opt out, but all signs point to LeBron staying in LA. 

But in the same week they see their biggest rival win another championship, the Lakers hire a first time coach. As great as LeBron James is, he will turn 40 years old during next season. Even depending on how the Lakers are going to fix this roster, they’re not guaranteed to come out of the Western Conference next year. But this will go one of two ways : Steve Kerr to the Warriors or Steve Nash to the Nets. Either way JJ Redick is going to face a lot of pressure next season and there will be no time for him to get his feet wet, despite it being LA and always sunny.