Report: LeBron James Not Involved In Lakers Coaching Search; NBA Exec Thinks Rob Pelinka Could Blame LeBron If JJ Redick Hire Doesn’t Work Out

According to NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, LeBron James is not involved in the Los Angeles Lakers coaching search. 

While the Lakers are widely expected to hire JJ Redick, LeBron’s podcast partner, they are still doing their due diligence. 

Los Angeles has been linked to Redick, Sam Cassell, James Borrego, David Adelman, Micah Nori, Chris Quinn and Kenny Atkinson. 

“I’m told LeBron James is not involved in the Lakers head coaching search…James has made it clear that this is the organization’s decision, he’s had no conversions with the Lakers about JJ Redick.”@ShamsCharania on the #Lakers coaching search pic.twitter.com/4YbscRYII7

— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) May 20, 2024

LeBron can become an unrestricted free agent this offseason by declining his 2024-25 player option. The leading scorer in NBA history is anticipated to return to the Lakers.  

LeBron, who turns 40 in December, averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.3 assists this season while shooting 54.0% from the field, 41.0% from beyond the arc and 75.0% from the free-throw line. He’s still one of the top players in the NBA despite being the oldest player in the association. 

The Lakers fired Darvin Ham after two seasons. Rob Pelinka is about to hire his third coach since being promoted to vice president of basketball operations.

One Eastern Conference executive told NBA insider Anthony Irwin of Lakers Daily that Pelinka could blame LeBron if the Redick hire doesn’t work out. 

“If they hire JJ and it doesn’t work out, Rob can basically tell Jeanie [Buss] the hire was for LeBron and get another chance at hiring whoever comes next,” the exec told Irwin. “This is technically the safest hire he could make.”

LeBron is expected to play up to two more NBA seasons. The 20-time All-Star joined the Lakers in the summer of 2018. He guided the franchise to the 2020 championship over the Miami Heat at the Walt Disney World bubble. 

The Lakers missed the playoffs in 2019, won the title in 2020, lost in the first round of the 2021 playoffs, missed the playoffs in 2022, lost in the conference finals in 2023 and lost in the first round of the 2024 playoffs.