Jared Dudley is leaving the Los Angeles Lakers and beginning his post-playing career.
The 22nd pick in the 2007 NBA draft played 14 seasons in the league with the last two in Los Angeles.
Dudley played a crucial role off the bench for L.A. during its title run in the 2019-20 season, but he spent much of last year on the sidelines rehabbing from an MCL tear in his knee.
He returned to the court during the latter stages of the regular season, but he wasn’t as mobile, signaling it might be time for him to hang up the sneakers. His leadership from the bench became a revered trait among the team, but it will not be staying in Los Angeles.
Jason Kidd and the Dallas Mavericks hired Dudley to be an assistant coach, which had LeBron James upset about the move.
Dudley posted a farewell message on Twitter thanking several members of the team, including James, Anthony Davis and team owner Jeanie Buss:
Man what a ride! 14 yr NBA career capped off by winning a NBA championship with the @Lakers! Just want to thank GOD for blessing me, also want to personally thank @KingJames @AntDavis23 @JeanieBuss and the Lakers organization,Without Bron and AD I don’t join LAL or wing a 💍
— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) August 24, 2021
Now, Dudley will have the opportunity to help Luka Doncic and company go further in the playoffs, which Dudley possesses plenty of experience with.
Kidd, who was with the Lakers as an assistant the last two seasons, also took Greg St. Jean from L.A.’s coaching staff with him to Dallas.
[vertical-gallery id=42612]
[mm-video type=video id=01fcc2vd6yq7js9ekkbn playlist_id=01f09kz5ecxq9bp57b player_id=01eqbvq570kgj8vfs7 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fcc2vd6yq7js9ekkbn/01fcc2vd6yq7js9ekkbn-e3299170e056a5e4c1533468b757ab12.jpg]