Report: Lakers consider JJ Redick a ‘Pat Riley-like’ coaching candidate

Report: Lakers consider JJ Redick a ‘Pat Riley-like’ coaching candidate

As the days go along, the Los Angeles Lakers are slowly ramping up their coaching search, recently getting permission to interview New Orleans’ James Borrego, Miami’s Chris Quinn, Denver’s David Adelman, Boston’s Sam Cassell and Minnesota’s Micah Nori, among others.

Though one of the candidates from the start, JJ Redick–a former 15-year veteran and current NBA analyst and broadcaster–is viewed as the current favorite to earn the gig. The Lakers reportedly hold Redick in very high regard, similar to a former Lakers head coach, according to Jovan Buha and Shams Charania of The Athletic.

“The Lakers are infatuated with Redick’s potential, according to league sources,” the report read. “Viewing him as a Pat Riley-like coaching prospect who could both help the franchise in the short term and lead it for years.”

Riley took over as the Lakers’ head coach 11 games into the 1981-1982 season after three seasons as an assistant. Led by Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Norm Nixon and Jamaal Wilkes, the Lakers finished the season 57-25 (50-21 under Riley) and won the NBA Title in six games over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Riely eventually won four titles with Los Angeles with seven total NBA Finals appearances in nine seasons, going 533-194. He also won a title as the team’s top assistant under Paul Westhead in 1979-80.

Could JJ Redick be the next head coach of the Lakers?

Respectfully, Redick doesn’t have experience on any sideline as a head coach. This is what I dislike about comparisons–whether it comes to coaches or players. It always has to be hyperbolic. Redick may have the charisma and the wit that Riley had, but both are their own personailities with their own styles and will have different resumes as coaches in different eras.

Riley made it work with two all-time great players. This current Lakers context isn’t as stacked in a conference with better teams. Whomever gets hired will have a tall task before LeBron James inevitably retires or departs from the premises.

Who do you think should be hired? Let us know in the comments!

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