Los Angeles: Former NBA player-turned-pundit JJ Redick says he is ready for the challenge of taking the Los Angeles Lakers back to the pinnacle of the NBA after being confirmed as the new head coach of the 17-time champions. Redick, who spent 15 years in the NBA as a player before joining ESPN in 2021 as an analyst, was formally unveiled on Monday as the successor to Darvin Ham , who was fired following the Lakers’ first-round playoff defeat to Denver.
Redick’s appointment to such a high-profile position, which was first reported last week, has raised eyebrows across the NBA given his lack of coaching experience.
The 40-year-old analyst acknowledged those concerns in remarks to reporters on Monday, admitting his emergence as a contender for the Lakers job had been “surreal.”
“This process has been surreal to say the least,” Redick said, before thanking the Lakers for “entrusting me in this position.”
“I take this responsibility very seriously,” Redick said. “I have never coached in the NBA before. I don’t know if you guys have heard that.”
The Lakers finished the regular season with a 47-35 record but were unable to threaten Denver in the opening round of the playoffs.
