Lakers hiring JJ Redick to be new head coach after Dan Hurley flirtation
The Lakers are taking a big swing with their new head coach.
After a dramatic coaching search, the Lakers struck a four-year deal with JJ Redick on Thursday, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The 39-year-old will earn roughly $8 million per season, according to The Athletic.
Redick, who has no coaching experience, co-hosts the “Mind the Game” podcast with Lakers star LeBron James, who can become a free agent this summer.
He most recently was an analyst for ESPN and called the NBA Finals games with Mike Breen and Doris Burke.
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka offered Redick the job Thursday morning after being sold on his “ability to connect with players and his basketball IQ,” according to ESPN.
The Lakers offered UConn coach Dan Hurley a six-year, $70 million contract, but Hurley opted to remain in Storrs to chase an NCAA championship three-peat.
Redick retired from playing three years ago after 15 NBA seasons and was known as a sharpshooter, finishing with a career 41.5 shooting percentage from 3-point range.
The former Duke star, who the Magic selected No. 11 overall in the 2006 NBA Draft, played parts of seven seasons in Orlando and later played for the Bucks, Clippers, 76ers, Pelicans and Mavericks, averaging 12.8 points over his career.
He averaged a career-high 18.1 points with Philadelphia during the 2018-19 season.
Redick was linked to the Lakers job since the team fired Darvin Ham on May 3 after a five-game, first-round playoff loss to the Nuggets and first spoke to Pelinka at the NBA draft combine last month.
James, 39, holds a player option for the 2024-25 season and has yet to officially make a decision on his future, though pal Redick becoming the Lakers’ coach ostensibly increases the likelihood he’ll stay.
Anthony Davis remains a top star when healthy. He appeared in a career-high 76 games this past season, though injuries will remain a concern as the 31-year-old big man gets older.
The Lakers also met with Pelicans assistant James Borrego before settling on Redick.
