JJ Redick gave an in-depth interview to Mike Trudell for NBA.com where the former NBA sharpshooter and newly appointed Lakers head coach made it clear that he will not be challenging his players to shooting contests and avoid trying to play basketball as much as he can.
“You gotta be able to, some days in practice, be there for light 5-on-5 stuff. Or 2-on-2 and 3-on-3 exercises. You need to be on the court … That’s not going to be me! I’m not doing shooting contests. I’m not playing basketball. No… I mean if somebody challenges me … but I’m not going to go out of my way to challenge them… I’m just terrified at this point of an injury. I really am. I’m terrified.”
Redick retired with 1,950 NBA threes made, good enough for the 20th spot on the all-time shooting list. While he was never a transcendent enough shooter to become an All-Star, he became a highly sought-after player around the NBA later in his career after the NBA’s shooting explosion.
He doesn’t need to play more basketball after a long career that ended in 2021. Redick named his production company (ThreeFourTwo) after the number of shots he made per practice session, so there’s no doubt Redick can light up current NBA players in practice after getting back into his old shooting rhythm.
LeBron James Is Excited To Be Coached By JJ Redick
LeBron James was heavily linked to the Lakers’ pursuit of Redick because of their relationship as podcast co-hosts. James made it clear that he had no influence on the Lakers coaching decision in recent interviews, something which his camp had also repeatedly claimed during the search.
“I’m not involved in the coaching hiring, but I’m excited about JJ. I’m excited about working with coach [Nate] McMillan. I haven’t worked with him since the Olympic run [in 2008]. My first time working with coach [Scott] Brooks, looking forward to that. So I’m excited about that. That’s been the extent of it all this summer as far as the Lakers.”
James elaborated on being coached by Redick and the mentality he’ll bring to the locker room next season.
“I’m super excited to work with JJ and looking forward to the fall. We’re coming in with a new system. We have to learn the system and see what Coach Redick and the rest of the coaching staff wants us to do. My only mindset is to come back and be ready to work, no matter who is there.”
James averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.3 assists last season under coach Darvin Ham, with Ham’s voice clearly losing any power it had throughout the season. Redick’s biggest task will be to get the players to trust him, but if James endorses Redick as coach in the locker room, everyone will give him an honest shot.
Redick is the fourth head coach LeBron has played against in the NBA (Ty Lue, Luke Walton, and Darvin Ham) and the first coach who was drafted after James. Redick is six months older, so at least James is still yet to get a coach younger than him.
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