JJ Redick infuses optimism into Lakernation with impressive debut press conference: Dissecting what's in store for LA
After weeks of extensive coaching search, the LA Lakers finally announced JJ Redick as the 29th head coach in franchise history on Monday. A lot of skepticism was met with Redick's potential hire when rumors started to fly around him being a frontrunner for LA's coaching job.
Even the Lakers took a wild turn in their search and pursued a more coveted target in two-time NCAA winning coach with UConn, Dan Hurley.
However, with Hurley rejecting a six-year $70 million offer, the job was Redick's to bag again, who was always seemingly at the forefront of the Lakers' coaching search.
Critics rebuffed the noise around LA's intrigue in the inexperienced Redick's coaching capabilities and the comparisons he drew to former legendary head coach Pat Riley.
Nevertheless, the stellar presentation of his ability to command a room, calm demeanor, and willingness to tackle the toughest questions surrounding his hire upfront infused plenty of optimism into the Lakernation, including majority of them who had an equal amount of doubt as the rest of the NBA community.
How JJ Redick bossed his first press conference as LA Lakers HC
JJ Redick made a name for himself in the media industry thanks to his innate ability to engage large audiences through his podcasts. He soon bagged a gig as an analyst at ESPN before receiving the promotion to be a part of their 'A' team in the broadcasting space and covering the 2024 NBA Finals.
However, the LA media isn't always the easiest to connect with, which sometimes can be intimidating, too. Past coaches, especially post the Phil Jackson era, haven't been able to exude confidence in their ideas or tackle the uncomfortable questions upfront. With Redick, it was different. Here's how he did it:
1) Acknowledges doubts around his hire first up
With JJ Redick, it was clear from the get-go that he wasn't expecting grace in his debut press conference as a first-time head coach. His first media address began him lightening the room by joking about his inexperience.
"I have never coached in the NBA before, I don't know if you guys have heard that," Redick joked with the media."
Redick hit the nail by addressing the demands of the modern-day NBA and a coach's role in adapting to the evolving game. It's exactly what Frank Vogel and Darvin Ham struggled with, failing to modernize the Lakers' schemes in their respective tenures. The two couldn't adjust and reconfigure things with the rosters at their disposal, leading to their eventual exits.
Redick listed that among his goals, along with acknowledging the championship expectations, instantly connecting with the Lakers fans and their demand for greatness. The former NBA player showed accountability from the front office, himself and the coaching staff to deliver championship-caliber basketball in his stint.
Getting the Lakers fans on the same page as him and getting the room to buy into his prospects was key to his confidence. Redick executed that perfectly by summing up his motivation and belief into why he was ready for the job not many thought was his to take in the first place.
2) JJ Redick had no qualms addressing Dan Hurley situation
One of the most stand-out moments during the press conference came when JJ Redick openly addressed the Dan Hurley situation, while Lakers GM Rob Pelinka tried deflecting that. The former podcaster had no qualms about the Lakers potentially hiring Dan Hurley and prioritizing him during a stretch where Redick didn't have much competition from rival candidates.
"At no point was my ego or feelings hurt or bruised in any way," Redick said about the Hurley situation. "Dan Hurley is a two-time national champion at UConn, I am a two-time 55 Swish League champion in the third and fourth-grade division."
Not many coaches address being second choices in their introductory press conference. Redick knocked it out of the park with that. It showed his willingness to respect and acknowledge the people he will be surrounded by, especially his staff, which he said could consist of two former head coaches with some young and innovative members.
3) Redick's coaching and player development strategy
JJ Redick seems well-prepared with how he intends to improve the Lakers. He revealed getting in touch with some of the team's core pieces like Anthony Davis, LeBron James, Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura already, collaborating with them on how he intends to set up the team on both ends of the court.
Redick pointed out the team's weaknesses and areas he'd like to improve, aligning with the need for modern-day offenses. He also emphasized boasting a roster with at least eight players who could play through the postseason, citing examples of the Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks and other successful franchises.
Coming to the Xs and Os, he spoke about using Davis as a 'hub' offensively like Nikola Jokic, running most of the Lakers' offense through him. For LeBron, who shot a career-high 41.0% from 3 last year, Redick wants him to shoot more 3s and play more off the ball so that he can preserve his energy through the 82-game season in his 22nd year. He also wants Hachimura to up his 3-point attempts and crash the offensive glass from the corner.
JJ Redick pointed out improving things like offensive rebounding efficiency, cutting down turnover rate and generating high shot quality from the arc. That resonated with the modern-day offense the successful teams have relied on, showing Redick has been paying close attention to detail.
He also said he would rely heavily on analytics, as seen on his podcasts and ESPN gig as an analyst and broadcaster. The Lakers historically haven't been as reliant on the numbers game, so that's a fresh perspective on how things could be under Redick's rein.
Another crucial aspect JJ Redick shed light on was player development for younger players like Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Max Christie and Jalen Hood-Schifino.
Redick could create an excellent rapport with all, considering he's a young coach, and help LA build a core with internal development. It's as critical as with the new CBA placing limitations on historically heavy spenders like the Lakers.
He also spoke about potentially coaching in the Las Vegas Summer League, so Redick seems to be taking the necessary steps for his personal learning curve as a first-time coach.
4) JJ Redick's competitive side was on display
JJ Redick gave an insight into his competitiveness after dropping an 'F-bomb' 40 minutes into his first-ever press conference as a head coach. After a reporter asked if Redick wanted to 'dispel' any misconceptions about him amid the stark criticism directed his way during this process, the former Clippers star said:
"I certainly heard everything. It's been a really interesting six weeks or so. Just in terms of being part of the engagement forming industry. However, I don't really have a great answer for your question, 'cause I really don't give a f**k. I want to coach the Lakers. I want to coach the team. I don't want to dispel anything."
"I want to be a great coach in the NBA, and I want to win championships and I want my players to maximize their careers. That's all I f**king care about."
JJ Redick displayed he is invested in this job as expected, willing to match the demands and challenges that come with it. He didn't hesitate to admit that his tenure may not turn out perfect, but he's willing to learn on the fly and work on his coaching career in the best way possible to positively impact the Lakers.
What's in store for LA?
JJ Redick's tenure will be tricky to predict since he's never been on the sidelines as a head coach before, but based on what we heard during his first press conference, some of his and the Lakers' plans seem solid for the upcoming season.
Redick addressed modernizing the Lakers' schemes, running more plays through Anthony Davis and focusing on the internal development of the younger players. It was their plan of action with Darvin Ham, too. However, it didn't come to fruition.
Unlike Ham, who seemed hellbent on sticking with his philosophies, JJ Redick seems flexible and willing to adapt. He spent a good time addressing some of the team's prominent weaknesses from last year and how he intends to improve the team.
Redick seems like an excellent communicator, owing to his relationships around the league and his podcasting and broadcasting experience, so it won't be surprising to see the players buying into his schemes.
With JJ Redick and LA targeting experienced assistant staff, plenty could go right about this high-risk, high-reward acquisition for the Lakers.