Following a disastrous season, the LA Lakers fired their head coach, Darvin Ham, and planned to reconstruct the team. The first step was to find a suitable replacement who could bring the franchise back to its heyday. After a long search and bitter rejection, they chose former Clippers guard, JJ Redick. While many questioned the decision due to his lack of experience, Austin Reaves’ agent, Aaron Reilly, showed full confidence in the new HC.
Satisfied with the franchise’s decision to hire Redick, the agent wrote on X (FKA Twitter), “This coach is about to show a different part of Austin’s game none have you seen. Kept receipts on all that third superstar bullsh**. Great hire for LA – going to be a big year next season.”
Reaves finished his third season in the Purple and Gold with averages of 15.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.5 assists. With LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the team, the 26-year-old guard has become the third star.
Reilly believes with the arrival of Redick, his client, Reaves’ unseen potential can be brought out. He feels that the budding star has a lot to offer that will prove his doubters wrong in the upcoming season. Besides Reilly, the franchise has expressed that they have extreme faith in the new hire.
Lakers Back JJ Redick to Emulate Heat or Warriors Success
The Lakers have set their bar very high even before JJ Redick could step on the training field. The 4-year contract with the former Duke is proof of their belief. However, Redick had to step into much larger shoes to live up to the franchise’s expectations.
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As per The Athletic, “Los Angeles is confident he can be its version of Erik Spoelstra or Steve Kerr — a culture-setter who can grow with the franchise for over a decade.”
Before turning into the head coach for the Miami Heat, Spoelstra spent years on the Eastern team as their assistant coach. Whereas Kerr, like Redick, didn’t have any coaching experience. Yet he gave the Golden State Warriors their most successful period by winning four championship titles with the team.
Though reaching their heights could be a tough job for Redick in four years, it isn’t impossible for him. The Lakers need him to set up a similar culture in the franchise to the other two coaches. What he does in the following seasons would be interesting to watch.
