LeBron James is distancing himself from the Lakers’ coaching search.
The four-time NBA champion is “not involved” in the process of finding a replacement for former head coach Darvin Ham, whom the Lakers fired after a first-round playoff exit to the Nuggets, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
“James has made it clear that this is the organization’s decision,” Charania said Monday on FanDuel’s “Run It Back.” “He’s had no conversions with the Lakers about JJ Redick, his podcast partner. He’s had no conversations with JJ about that position as well.”
Rich Paul, James’ agent, told Charania the pair “do a podcast together, that does not mean that he wants JJ Redick as his head coach.”
“If he was making the decisions for the Lakers, [current Clippers coach] Ty Lue would’ve been the head coach in 2019 [and Mavericks star] Kyrie Irving would be his point guard.”
Mike Budenholzer, Charles Lee and Kenny Atkinson are also being considered for the job, Charania previously reported.
Lue is one of James’ most influential former coaches as the two won a championship together with the Cavaliers in 2016.
The Clippers are reportedly looking to sign Lue to a contract extension beyond the 2025-26 season after they were eliminated by the Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs.
Many believed James, 39, would want Redick, also 39, as his coach due to their close friendship and the success of their basketball podcast, “Mind The Game” — which is presented by Uninterrupted and ThreeFourTwo Productions.
The podcast, which launched in March, is described as “an entry into the heralded basketball minds” of James and Redick.
Redick — who joined ESPN after playing 15 NBA seasons in September 2021 — was first linked to the Lakers after L.A.’s first-round playoff ouster, a 108-106 Game 5 loss to Denver on April 29.
Three days later, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin said on the May 2 installment of “The Dan Patrick Show” that Redick “certainly is a real candidate if they open up this coaching search.”
The next day, the Lakers parted ways with Ham.
James — who became the league’s all-time leading scorer last February — has yet to address the rumors.
The future Hall of Famer said he would meet with his agent and his family to evaluate “what’s best for my career” in terms of returning for a 22nd season after the Lakers’ playoff elimination.
“We’ll cross that when we need to,” he said at the time.
James — who will turn 40 in December — signed a two-year, $97.1 million contract extension with the Lakers in September 2022, which includes a player option for 2024-25 worth $51.4 million.
He has until June 29 to either opt into the final year of his contract with the Lakers or become an unrestricted free agent.
James is expected to play up to two more NBA seasons, Charania reported.
