In an appearance on “The Jim Rome Show,” legendary former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski spoke candidly on the pressure that comes with leading the Lakers. As Krzyzewski explained, the Lakers have to be coached by someone who embraces all that comes with the job, both on and off the court.
“I think [JJ Redick] will do great and obviously I’m not a consultant or anything like that but I know Rob Pelinka and love him. I think [Redick] will be terrific. He passionately wanted to coach… I think he has great knowledge of the game and I think [LA’s] the most intense media market for a coach and I think he’ll be able to handle that. He’ll handle it a hell of a lot better if Anthony [Davis] and LeBron stay healthy for 82 games.”
Coach K on what he's expecting from JJ Redick as Lakers head coach. pic.twitter.com/W12Y0OWl2L
— Jim Rome (@jimrome) July 30, 2024
Coach K was an unofficial resource for the Lakers during their coaching search this summer when they fired Darvin Ham and decided to seek a new voice in the locker room. Out of the gate, Redick rose as a top candidate for the Lakers and it’s no secret they were intrigued by his passion and knowledge of the game
After a swing (and miss) at UConn Men’s coach Dan Hurley, the Lakers finalized their agreement with Reick to be the team’s latest head coach. Despite concerns over his lack of experience, Redick earned the trust of Rob Pelinka and convinced him that he had the perfect game plan to bring out the most in this Lakers team.
Of course, being the coach of the Lakers is unlike any other NBA coaching job. As a team with 17 championships and seemingly always in the mix for a long playoff run, the franchise and its rabid fanbase have grown accustomed to winning.
Whether it’s Darvin Ham, Frank Vogel, or Luka Walton, the Lakers will not accept losing for long and the coach is always the first to be blamed. On social media, fans will be scrutinizing and analyzing every lineup on the floor and Redick will be subject to judgment like he’s never seen before.
Over the past few years, we’ve already seen several coaches and players crumble under the pressure of being a Laker. Russell Westbrook is one of the most glaring examples, and by the end of his tenure, he became a completely toxic presence in the locker room.
Needless to say, the pressure is on for former NBA sharpshooter JJ Redick. As the friend and ally of LeBron James, he probably has a longer leash than most who have accepted the job but patience will wear thin if the team starts to lose a lot of games at any point next season.
With practically no roster changes from last season, when they finished 7th in the West, it’s unlikely that the Lakers can compete for a title as presently constructed. Besides a major tweak in the game plan, it will take some trades or signings to get the Lakers over the top but they might have no choice but to carry on with who they have.
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