It’s doubtful new Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick will be partying too hard on his 40th birthday. After all, he has a whole new season for which to prepare.
Redick will be introduced as Lakers coach at the team’s practice facility on Monday, and yes, it marks his 40th birthday, as relayed by Jovan Buha of The Athletic.
Redick and the Lakers agreed to a reported four-year contract last week.
He has already started putting together a coaching staff after meeting with GM Rob Pelinka on Thursday morning, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
“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,” Wojnarowski wrote.
The move follows Los Angeles’ failed pursuit of UConn coach Dan Hurley — and some will tell you Redick was the Lakers’ guy all along. But they at least wanted to try Hurley first.
Redick, 39, comes to the job with no prior head-coaching experience, though he did just recently retire as a player. He also hosts a podcast with Lakers star LeBron James, which will now presumably come to an end (though James may find a new co-host).
Interestingly, one NBA executive told Hoops Wire that Hurley used Wojnarowski and the Lakers as leverage to get more money from UConn.
The exec said Hurley “was never going to leave UConn” and that he used his relationship with Wojnarowski and the “Lakers name” to get an increase in his salary from Connecticut. That opened the door for Redick.
New Orleans Pelicans assistant James Borrego was believed to be another top candidate in LA. He very well could be headed to the Cleveland Cavaliers now that he’s out of the running with the Lakers.
Looking for the latest NBA Insider News & Rumors?
Be sure to follow Hoops Wire on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for breaking NBA News and Rumors for all 30 teams!
