JJ Redick has received a big warning from a former LeBron James teammate. The former NBA guard has become a full-time analyst and podcaster since his career ended, but ever since he announced his retirement, Redick was considered a future NBA coach.
Amid rumors linking him to the Los Angeles Lakers, 2016 NBA champion Channing Frye warned Redick against taking the Lakers head-coaching job as his first gig in the NBA.
“I think it’s a death sentence. I think he’s jumping on a grenade,” Frye said on NBA TV.
“I think JJ is a coach. I know for a fact that JJ Redick is a coach, but taking that job, I just don’t know. That’s a lot. You’re jumping in and not only coaching in the NBA when you haven’t ever done that before, but you’re also coaching Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell [and] LeBron James. And how do you know time-and-score situations? Like, this is not an offense to Detroit or Charlotte or San Antonio or OKC, but this is not a ‘let’s learn your way through.'”
“I think it’s a death sentence. I think he’s jumping on a grenade. … As a first-year coach, I wouldn’t recommend that job for anybody.”@ChanningFrye on JJ Redick being “considered favorite” to become the new head coach of the Lakers pic.twitter.com/cpnPsUMZC4
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 16, 2024
After 15 years in the NBA, Redick gained a lot of knowledge and experience that make him one of the most intriguing coaching prospects right now. The Los Angeles Lakers fired Darvin Ham after their first-round playoff elimination against the Denver Nuggets, ending a two-year relationship with another rookie coach.
A notable difference between JJ Redick and Ham is that the latter worked as an assistant before taking the reins of the Lakers. The three-point specialist is respected among his peers, but taking a big job like the Lakers’ HC position as his first experience could be a big challenge for him.
It’s well known that he has a good relationship with podcast co-host LeBron James, but things are different on the court, especially when the King is trying to win.
JJ Redick responds to Colin Cowherd’s comments
While analyzing Game 5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves-Denver Nuggets series, Redick sent a message to Colin Cowherd, who criticized him for wearing backward hats during a recent podcast.
“I want to apologize to you for my unprofessionalism this morning with the backward cap because I don’t know if people know this or not, but certain times when you record content, you’re not allowed to have logos,” Redick said, “So, I don’t have any hats without logos, so I’ve got to turn my cap backward.
The Lakers are still looking for a new head coach, and besides JJ Redick, candidates like Sam Cassell and James Borrego could join the Purple and Gold this offseason.