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ESPN analyst and former NBA guard J.J. Redick has reportedly been hired to become new head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers as part of a four-year contract agreement," ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Thursday (June 20).
"ESPN Sources: JJ Redick has agreed on a four-year contract to become the next coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. Rob Pelinka offered job this morning and Redick’s started working on a staff to surround himself with experience," Wojnarowski wrote on his X account. "Pelinka became sold on Redick’s ability to connect with players and his basketball IQ and believes surrounding him with an elite coaching staff will help to shorten the learning curve into his first coaching job, sources said."
Redick, who retired after 15 NBA seasons in 2021, has never previously coach a team at the professional or collegiate levels.
Redick became the favorite to land the Lakers' head coaching job after two-time defending national champion Dan Hurley opted to stay at UConn last week. The Lakers reportedly offered Hurley a six-year, $70 million contract.
Redick co-hosts the Mind the Game podcast with Lakers All-Star forward LeBron James, who has a player option this offseason and could test free agency, specifically with his son, Bronny, entered in the 2024 NBA Draft pool.