Austin Reaves Calls New Lakers Coach JJ Redick ‘A Basketball Genius’

The Los Angeles Lakers hired former NBA guard JJ Redick as their new head coach and Austin Reaves is excited to play for the Duke product. 

Reaves called Redick “a basketball genius.”

I asked Lakers star and Arkansas native Austin Reaves about the hiring of new Lakers coach JJ Reddick. Reaves says Reddick is a basketball genius and he can’t wait to work with him. #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/NP60LHPkeQ

— Cierra Clark (@CierraClarkTV) June 22, 2024

Redick is signing a four-year deal worth in the neighborhood of $8 million per season with the Lakers, who fired Darvin Ham after two seasons.

One of the best shooters in NBA history, Redick has yet to coach above the youth level. He played 15 years in the NBA with the Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, New Orleans Pelicans and Dallas Mavericks.

Reaves averaged 15.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.5 assists in 2023-24 while shooting 48.6% from the field, 36.7% from beyond the arc and 85.3% from the free-throw line. He played in all 82 games. 

Los Angeles signed Reaves to a four-year, $53 million contract last July in restricted free agency. The guard will make $12.9 million next season. 

The 26-year-old Reaves has career averages of 12.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists. LeBron James and Anthony Davis are big fans of Reaves’ game, sources told Hoops Wire. 

The Lakers went 47-35 in 2023-24. They lost to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2024 playoffs in five games. Denver also beat Los Angeles in the 2023 Western Conference Finals. 

According to NBA insiders Shams Charania, Jovan Buha and Sam Amick of The Athletic, Redick is focused on elevating Davis’ involvement and alleviating LeBron’s workload. LeBron, 39, is the oldest player in the NBA. He turns 40 in December. 

Scott Brooks, Rajon Rondo, Jared Dudley and Sam Cassell are candidates to join Redick’s staff, per The Athletic. 

“Assistant coaching candidates for Redick’s staff will include former head coach and recent Trail Blazers assistant Scott Brooks, former Lakers guard Rajon Rondo, ex-Laker and current Dallas Mavericks assistant Jared Dudley and Cassell, according to league sources,” Charania, Buha and Amick wrote.