“I am a two-time 55 Swish League Champion!” New Lakers head coach JJ Redick jokes about comparisons with Dan Hurley

JJ Redick has been preparing for the role of head coach since retiring from playing.

“I am a two-time 55 Swish League Champion!” New Lakers head coach JJ Redick jokes about comparisons with Dan Hurley

New Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick jokes about comparisons with Dan Hurley, says he has experience in other areas to help him coach

New head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, JJ Redick was unveiled today in front of hordes of reporters. Naturally, all the reporters were keen to ask him questions surrounding his hiring, mainly due to the fact that he does not have any prior coaching experience. The former NBA star took a humorous tone to some of the obvious hard-hitting questions. But he reserved one of his best jokes regarding the Lakers’ pursuit of Dan Hurley.

One of the reporters asked GM Rob Pelinka about the pursuit of Dan Hurley. Although Redick was not asked this question specifically, he gave his own take on the situation when the franchise actively pursued the UConn HC;

YouTube video

I was getting ready to call Game 1 of the NBA Finals when the Dan Hurley news broke, and Rob was quick to call me...During that four-day period, at no point was my ego or my feelings hurt or bruised in any way. Dan Hurley is a two-time national champion at UConn. I am a two-time 55 Swish League champion in the 3rd and 4th grade division. I understood.

JJ Redick said

Through this, he suggested that he knows the difference in accomplishments as a coach. Redick does not have any, so he would understand if Hurley was selected. Dan Hurley is a 2-time NCAA Champion. More importantly, he has established a winning culture at UConn which has made them the undisputed team to beat in the men’s college basketball circle.

FS Video

Redick in comparison has only been a player, a student, an analyst, a color commentator and lastly a podcaster who talked about the game. But none of that brings any experience in coaching. However, his preparations have been out of the ordinary.

Since retiring JJ Redick has been preparing to be head coach

JJ Redick is a student of the game. Knowing this, the reporter asked Redick how he prepared to be a head coach as a follow-up question. 

It was really after I interviewed for the Toronto job last year that I knew that I wanted to be a head coach in the NBA. So, the last year, I spent a lot of time, talking to coaches, talking to GMs, picking their brains. I have zero coaching experience in the NBA, but I would argue that I'm very experienced. The last 3 years have been valuable in preparing me for this moment.
JJ Redick revealed

Redick suggested that he has been studying the game more than ever after retiring. That has helped build on the experience he accumulated during his playing years. Essentially, he could relate to what other coaches, players and GMs were saying when he was discussing the nitty gritty aspects of the game. His preparations might be theoretical, but as he was able to watch from the sidelines, it gave him a different perspective on how the game is played.

Armed with all of this, he will now go to work for the Los Angeles Lakers. Naturally, with immediate championship expectations on his head.

In case you missed: