Lakers are on the verge of hiring Darvin Ham’s replacement
If you’ve been following the Lakers’ coaching search, this comes as no surprise. Redick earned a name for himself over the last few years with his astute basketball analysis, gaining a spot as a podcast co-host with LeBron James.
Redick retired from the NBA in 2021 as a member of the Dallas Mavericks. The former Duke standout had a successful 15-year career in the NBA, establishing himself as a top shooter. Since retiring, Redick has worked as an on-air analyst for ESPN, establishing himself as one of the top basketball minds on television.
However, coaching is a very other job. Knowing basketball isn’t enough. It entails managing egos, regulating the locker room, and earning.
This will almost certainly be a difficult role for Redick. The Lakers are not an easy franchise to be a head coach for. The expectations are usually higher than the overall talent level of the roster and you are constantly put under the spotlight. Recent head coaches like Frank Vogel and Ham were unfairly scapegoated at times for the team’s struggles that had more to do with the front office and roster building than coaching. The best aspect of this hire is the fact that it likely increases LeBron James’ odds of staying in Los Angeles. Redick and James are good friends and the Lakers wouldn’t have made this hire if they didn’t think it would help them retain their 39-year-old superstar.
