LeBron James has extended his brotherly hand of support to the Los Angeles Lakers head coach, JJ Redick. In one of the most unique statements made, Redick proposed a change of rule that riled up the hoops community significantly. Reflecting on the NBA’s decision to play the regular season games with a brand-new ball, Redick stated that a worn-out one would have been a better choice.
Well, this proposal might seem like an odd idea. However, the Lakers’ head coach went on to detail that the in-hand feel of a worn-out and new basketball differs quite significantly. Redick spoke to Sports Illustrated about the same and stated, “Give the guys the opportunity to pick a good basketball. … You think I’m joking. I’m neurotic.”
Soon after this comment, a swarm of criticism surrounded the former NBA sharpshooter. However, much to the delight of the Lakers head coach, his number one prospect, LeBron James, sided with the idea. Sharing a screenshot of the post from Sports Illustrated on his Instagram story, James wrote, “It’s only odd if you ain’t a hooper!”
Surely, James’ narrative will add a compelling angle to the story. After all, LeBron James is considered the modern-day NBA GOAT by many. And as for JJ Redick, he started off his season on the right note.
Clashing against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Lakers eased past them with a 110-103 victory. The star of the night was Anthony Davis, who scored 36 points, while King James chipped in with 17. The game also saw the debut of LeBron’s son, Bronny James, who was on the court for three minutes. Thus, after passing the initial test on his debut, Redick looks like a fitting choice for the head coach. Surprisingly, Redick’s hiring had a lot to do with his performance on social media.
JJ Redick Hiring: The Surprising Story Behind Lakers’ Million-Dollar Decision
JJ Redick was roped in as the 29th Head Coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. Apparently, it seemed like his heroics with the Milwaukee Bucks and the Orlando Magic were the major reason for consideration. Well, while it was indeed an important factor, there were several other things going on in the back of Rob Pelinka’s mind. For starters, Redick has a strong presence on the internet.
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Going through a rebuilding phase, the coach’s active involvement on social media can be a huge bonus for uplifting the Lakers’ somewhat tainted reputation. Besides, Redick also boasts of a commanding personality that is heavily desired in making a team come together and perform.
Reflecting a similar mindset, Pelinka told the Los Angeles Times, “When we set out on the journey to name the next Lakers coach, we had in mind concepts around innovation and challenging ourselves to be forward-thinking.” Thus, with the wave of reform hitting the Lakers, it remains to be seen whether they can reclaim lost glory as the season rolls.
