“That would just seem like madness!” Rachel Nichols on the Lakers hiring JJ Redick as head coach 

Rachel Nichols has warned against hiring an inexperienced JJ Redick.

“That would just seem like madness!” Rachel Nichols on the Lakers hiring JJ Redick as head coach 

Rachel Nichols and JJ Redick

Rachel Nichols on Fox’s Undisputed asserted that it’s a bad idea for the Los Angeles Lakers to hire JJ Redick as head coach, despite his knowledge of the game. Redick has no coaching experience, and Nichols believed it would be “madness” to put him in charge of a team with championship aspirations and two elite players.

However, Redick’s relationship with LeBron James has led to speculation that James’ influence could be behind his consideration for the coaching position. However, Nichols noted that the Lakers’ history of catering to their stars shouldn’t outweigh the need for an experienced coach.

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I really like JJ Redick, I think he does know the game. All the stuff we say about him with the Xs and Os is true, he’s got a great mind for seeing how basketball games unfold. I appreciate the contributions he could make… I’m gonna think about putting a guy who has never coached at any level in charge of a team with championship aspirations, two elite players, in one of the most competitive conference environments we have seen in a very long time in the league, that would just seem like madness, right? The fact that we’d even be having this conversation would seem pretty insane.
Rachel Nichols said

JJ Redick might have been one of the smartest players of his generation, but his lack of experience to some, has made him unqualified for the job. It would however not be unprecedented for a coach with zero experience to be hired by an NBA franchise, especially one with the history and prestige of the Lakers.

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Furthermore, the team’s championship aspirations and competitive conference environment have made it an even riskier move. Rachel Nichols emphasized that the Lakers need an experienced coach to lead them to success, not a rookie coach like Redick.

NBA Executive wonders if JJ Redick would scream at LeBron James

LeBron James and JJ Redick have a close relationship, which has raised questions about Redick’s ability to lead the Lakers as head coach. However, one NBA executive wondered if Redick would have the gravitas to hold James accountable on the court.

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One Redick skeptic in Chicago—and to be clear, there are plenty—wondered about his gravitas when it would come to holding James accountable. Would he scream at LeBron to get back when he was complaining about a foul?
Los Angeles Times’ Dan Woike wrote

Redick and James have a history as peers in the NBA and recently reconnected through their podcast, Mind the Game. Despite no prior coaching experience, Redick has been considered for several coaching positions and is a favorite for the Lakers’ job.

Taking a chance on Redick could be a risk for the Lakers, but it could also come with a high reward. Redick would bring a fresh perspective and potentially maximize the roster’s potential, which heavily relies on James and Anthony Davis.

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