LAKERS EXCITED ABOUT REDICK

LA side hail basketball IQ of rookie coach, who vows to build a title-contending team

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Former National Basketball Association (NBA) player-turned-pundit J.J. 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 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 June 24 as the successor to Darvin Ham, who was fired following the Lakers’ first-round play-off loss to Denver.

His appointment to such a high-profile position, first reported last week, has raised eyebrows given his lack of coaching experience.

The 40-year-old analyst acknowledged those concerns in remarks to reporters, admitting his emergence as a contender for the Lakers job had been unbelievable.

“This process has been surreal to say the least,” Redick said, thanking the Lakers for “entrusting me in this position”.

“But I take this responsibility very seriously. I have never coached in the NBA before. I don’t know if you guys have heard that.”