Lakers Hire JJ Redick on 4-Year Contract as Head Coach

Former NBA veteran and ESPN color commentator JJ Redick has agreed to a four-year contract to become the Los Angeles Lakers' new head coach, sources informed ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The deal will pay Redick approximately $8 million annually, as reported by The Athletic's Shams Charania and Sam Amick.

Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka extended the job offer to Redick on Thursday morning, impressed by the 39-year-old's basketball intelligence and his ability to connect with players, Wojnarowski adds. Pelinka believes that an elite coaching staff surrounding Redick will help mitigate the challenges of his transition to head coach.

According to Wojnarowski, Redick has already begun assembling an experienced staff. Potential candidates include former head coach Scott Brooks, Celtics assistant Sam Cassell, Dallas Mavericks assistant and former Lakers forward Jared Dudley, and recently retired Rajon Rondo, who also played for the Lakers, according to Charania.

The Lakers turned back to Redick after UConn's Dan Hurley declined a six-year, $70-million contract offer. Initially, Redick was L.A.'s top candidate before the offer to Hurley.

Redick's tenure with ESPN's top broadcasting team concluded following the Boston Celtics' NBA championship victory on Monday.

Redick becomes the sixth coach since 2010 to be hired without prior experience as an assistant or head coach in the NBA, college, or international leagues, according to ESPN's Matt Williams. He previously interviewed for the Toronto Raptors' coaching vacancy last year and pursued a coaching role with the Charlotte Hornets this season. Additionally, he was considered for openings with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons.

During his decorated career at Duke, Redick averaged 12.8 points, two rebounds, and two assists over 15 years in the NBA, primarily with the Los Angeles Clippers and Orlando Magic. Known for his three-point shooting efficiency, he maintained a 42% success rate from beyond the arc.

Since retiring, Redick has launched popular podcasts including "The Old Man and the Three" and "Mind the Game" with Lakers star LeBron James, who holds a $51.4-million player option for the 2024-25 season.

The Lakers parted ways with Darvin Ham in May after two seasons. Ham had a 90-74 record but did not lead L.A. to the Finals.