VIDEO: Stephen A. Smith Drops Bombshell Candidate For Los Angeles Lakers Head Coaching Vacancy

June 19, 2024, 6:19pm ESTBy Afshan khan

Los Angeles Lakers, Stephen A. Smith Monty Williams — Stephen A. Smith, Los Angeles Lakers (Image Credits: Getty Images)

In a recent episode of the show “First Take,” host Stephen A. Smith suggested a new name for the head coaching position of the Los Angeles Lakers. Smith believes that Monty Williams should “definitely” be considered as a candidate for the Lakers’ head coaching position. He also noted that despite the hype around JJ Redick, Williams could be a better candidate for the Lakers to consider.

.@stephenasmith thinks Monty Williams should "definitely" be a candidate for the Lakers' HC position. pic.twitter.com/Y06tCiBZlv
— First Take (@FirstTake) June 19, 2024

“I know we’ve been talking a lot about JJ Reddick, but with Monty Williams available, that is a situation that the Los Angeles Lakers should look at, okay? So I would definitely say that as well. They should look at it.” Smith said.

Stephen A. Smith Expressed His Respect for the Los Angeles Lakers

Smith expressed his affection for Jeannie Buss, the Lakers owner, and showed his admiration for Rob Pelinka, the general manager, and Kurt Rambis, the basketball adviser. Smith suggested that all three Lakers officials should consider Williams a candidate for the head coaching position.

“Obviously, Jeannie Buss, you know how much I love Jeannie Buss. I’m rooting for her to find the right person for the job. Respect Rob Pelinka and what he’s going to do, you know, and yes, I respect Kurt Rambis too. I was joking around about him earlier, but I respect him too. So listen, they’re all going to be a part of the process, and we’ll see what happens. And, you know, I think Monty Williams definitely should be a candidate for that job.” Smith added.

After being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Denver Nuggets, the Lakers decided to make some changes to improve the team. They started by firing all of the coaches, including head coach Darvin Ham. Following this action, the Lakers began searching for a potential candidate to lead the team in the next season. The first rumored candidate was Redick, possibly due to his podcast with star player LeBron James. The second speculated candidate was Dan Hurley, who later changed his mind and chose to stay with UConn.