JJ Redick’s Exciting Challenge as a Rookie NBA Head Coach Unveiled!

In his first press conference as the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers in June, JJ Redick perfectly embodied the role. Dressed in a sharp, dark suit with his hair impeccably styled, he exuded a strong sense of self-assuredness. Addressing a question that doubted his transition from commentator to coach, Redick boldly stated, “I really don’t give a f—.” His demeanor drew comparisons to the legendary Pat Riley, a parallel that some in the Lakers organization have noted internally. Riley, a celebrated figure, guided the Lakers to four championships, setting a lofty benchmark for Redick as he begins his coaching career.

The practice of hiring former players without prior coaching experience is not new and has produced varied outcomes. A notable success is Steve Kerr, who led the Golden State Warriors to four championships, starting with his debut season in 2014-15. Kerr took over a team that had only won a single playoff series in three years under former coach Mark Jackson, who was also new to coaching. On the other hand, Steve Nash, despite coaching a talent-rich Brooklyn team featuring Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving, was let go after two disappointing early playoff exits and a poor start to the 2022-23 season.

“It’s a different challenge,” remarked Vinny Del Negro, a former Bulls coach who transitioned from player to broadcaster and then assistant general manager before coaching. “You can study all the game films and think you’ve got the best strategies, but unpredictable things will happen no matter how prepared you think you are,” he added.

[ Buy now: Victor Wembanyama on Sports Illustrated’s November 2024 cover, the NBA and college basketball preview issue ]

In Chicago, Del Negro leaned heavily on his team of experienced assistant coaches, including former head coaches Del Harris and Bernie Bickerstaff. Del Negro would start his days consulting with Harris on offensive strategies, then discuss defensive tactics with another assistant, Bob Ociepka. Bickerstaff would provide feedback on practice sessions and Del Negro’s management of in-game huddles.

“I quickly realized that there’s never enough time,” Del Negro, now an analyst on NBA TV, reflected on his coaching stint where he recorded a 41-41 record in both seasons with the Bulls. “As a young coach, you might plan to accomplish several things in a day but soon learn it’s better to excel in one or two areas rather than be mediocre at several,” he explained.

Similar to Del Negro, Redick has put together a team of experienced assistants including Nate McMillan and Scott Brooks, both former head coaches. From the outset, Redick has emphasized the importance of organization. Players had expressed concerns about unclear game plans and frequently changing roles last season under Darvin Ham.

Redick has also stressed the need to improve shot selection. Last season, the Lakers were 12th in the league in midrange jump shots attempted per game but ranked 23rd in conversion rate. Redick is encouraging the team to increase their three-point attempts, shifting from last season’s focus on size and paint-oriented play to a strategy that aligns more with the league’s trend towards defensive versatility and three-point shooting.

Despite these changes, the real question remains whether these adjustments will translate to success, especially considering the team’s performance last year with LeBron James and a healthy Anthony Davis but still missing the playoffs. The challenge for Redick, even if he proves to be an exceptional coach, will be significant given the competitive nature of the Western Conference and the limitations of the Lakers’ roster beyond its two stars.

All Redick can do, according to Del Negro, is establish a standard and consistently adhere to it.

“Coaching is gut-wrenching,” Del Negro stated. “It’s a round-the-clock job. You have to clearly communicate your expectations to your players and work diligently on those expectations every day until you achieve success,” he concluded.