After a surprisingly long pursuit, JJ Redick will reportedly become the next head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.
While he was long coveted for the position, Redick will join the organization without any prior head coaching experience in the NBA. He also doesn’t have a previous background as an assistant coach or as a head coach at other levels of basketball beyond his son’s youth league.
It is entirely possible that Redick, who had a long career in the league as a player and is now considered one of the sharpest minds in hoops media, may exceed expectations.
But his inexperience naturally leads to some skepticism about how he will do in his first role like this one, which is why some fans believe he should ramp up into the position by coaching the Lakers during NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
Last season, before first-time Adrian Griffin took over for as the new head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, he and his coaching staff got their feet wet in Las Vegas. While his tenure with the organization was ill-fated, it was still a wise move.
Steve Kerr, another former player who did not have any head coaching experience before he was hired, also coached the Warriors in NBA Summer League before his first official game with Golden State in 2014.
The previous season, Jason Kidd also made his head coaching debut during NBA Summer League for the Brooklyn Nets.
Redick should consider doing the same thing so he can have as many reps as possible before eventually stepping on the sidelines for his first game.
Fans and analysts shared their thoughts
If I was an ESPN broadcaster getting into NBA coaching for 1st time with no experience, here’s some unsolicited but heartfelt advice:
1. Coach your Las Vegas Summer League team. You need every piece of experience possible.
1/8— Fran Fraschilla (@franfraschilla) June 20, 2024
I’m all for JJ Redick coaching in Summer League. Why not? Get a little experience
— Trevor Lane (@Trevor_Lane) June 21, 2024
JJ Redick should absolutely consider coaching Lakers Summer League
Get in the flow, all upside
— Ralph Mason (@Ralph_MasonJr) June 21, 2024
You really don’t know about former players going straight into head coach positions w/o experience, until you see it play it out.
So I really don’t have an opinion on JJ Redick.
It would be nice to see him coach summer league and be as prepared as he can be for the job.
— Landon Thomas (@sixfivelando) June 21, 2024
I think JJ Redick is so much of a psychopath that he's gonna want to win Summer League
— 555 (@5555555vv) June 21, 2024
JJ should coach Summer League and there’s no real conversation on the contrary
— Ross Gasmer (@Ross_Gasmer12) June 20, 2024
JJ better be coaching summer league. Let him get the new era started and some feel for head coaching!
— Ethan Price (@Paradox_EP) June 20, 2024
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