Former NBA sharpshooter JJ Redick has made headlines again – but this time from the sidelines. The 40-year-old was named head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers on June 24, 2024, despite having zero prior professional coaching experience. This unprecedented move comes after Redick’s successful media career following his 2021 retirement, where he co-hosted the basketball analysis podcast Mind the Game with LeBron James .
Redick’s transition from podcaster to Lakers coach shocked analysts, especially given his limited coaching resume – he previously only coached his 9-year-old son’s fourth-grade basketball team. However, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka praised Redick’s “basketball IQ and modern approach to analytics” during the hiring announcement .
From Three-Point King to Bench Boss
The career shift caps Redick’s remarkable basketball journey:
- 15-year NBA career with 6 teams (2006-2021)
- All-time Duke scoring leader (2,769 points)
- Holds NBA single-season 3PT records for Clippers (201) and 76ers (226)
- ESPN analyst from 2021-2024 before Lakers hiring
Redick’s coaching debut delivered immediate results – a 110-103 season-opening win against Minnesota on October 22, 2024. His offensive schemes emphasized spacing and three-point shooting, hallmarks of his playing style .
The Podcast That Changed Everything
Industry insiders credit Redick’s Mind the Game podcast with LeBron James as key to his hiring. Launched in March 2024, the show analyzed Xs-and-Os with over 320 million YouTube views. Their final episode before Redick’s coaching move discussed “modern playmaking principles,” foreshadowing his Lakers strategy .
