The Lakers’ pursuit of JJ Redick as their next coach appears to be heating up, as Shams released a new update during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show today.
“I was told that last week the Lakers met with JJ Redick for a long time,” said Shams. “He was the first to hold a face-to-face meeting and I think he is the best in this job.”
“I was told that last week the Lakers met with JJ Redick for a long time.
He was the first person to see each other face to face and I think he is the best in this job” ~ @ShamsCharania #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/leqeBn0mCk
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 24, 2024
This follows ESPN’s Brian Windhorst saying the Lakers staff tuned into Redick and LeBron James’ podcast, and that they could “see a connection” between the two.
Redick said earlier this month that he enjoys coaching and that he misses being in an NBA competitive environment.
“What I miss the most is the juice, I miss the game, I miss the competition, I miss the leadership, I miss being on the team,” said Redick on Road Trippin’. “Like in the locker room, like in the locker room after winning a road game. Like you remember those things. There’s a higher level you get as an athlete than passing, and shooting, and pushing, and Richard (Jefferson) never took over, held, or shot the basketball.
“It’s all these little moments of playing the real game, that sometimes I feel like we all miss as athletes of the past. The part about training in general, it’s a general statement, it’s like things I remember and things I like to do. That includes training, that everything is part of training.”
Redick has no NBA coaching experience, though that may not matter if the Lakers’ top ranking is pleasing to LeBron, who could leave LA in free agency this summer.
READ MORE: JJ Redick Reveals Why He Wants To Be An NBA Coach
