Tag: Jared Dudley

JJ Redick wants both experience and youth on his coaching staff

New Lakers head coach JJ Redick says he wants both grizzled vets and young assistants on his coaching staff.

The JJ Redick era is now officially underway for the Los Angeles Lakers. On Monday, they held a press conference to officially introduce him as their new head coach, and there is at least the promise that he will become a good one.

But one potential major negative is the fact that he has virtually no coaching experience. Perhaps as a result, there has been plenty of talk that he and the Lakers want to fill his coaching staff with at least one man who has previously been a head coach.

Redick confirmed that during an interview with John Ireland, the Lakers’ radio play-by-play broadcaster. But he also said he wants some young assistants on his staff as well.

“I will have the say of who our coaching staff is. But that doesn’t mean Rob [Pelinka] and I are not collaborating on literally every single position. … We are completely aligned in that the front of bench should have experience. We definitely want at least a couple former head coaches in the NBA there. Behind the bench, we want young, hungry, innovative, fresh self-doers, self-motivated — that’s what we want behind the bench, and there’s gotta be that balance.”

One experienced candidate that has been mentioned is Scott Brooks, who spent 12 seasons as an NBA head coach, most notably with the Kevin Durant-led Oklahoma City Thunder. As far as young candidates, Rajon Rondo and Jared Dudley, both of whom played for the Lakers when they won it all in 2020, could be considered.

Lakers want to add multiple former head coaches to JJ Redick’s staff

The Lakers want to give JJ Redick a coaching staff that has been there and done that.

About a month and a half after firing Darvin Ham, the Los Angeles Lakers finally have a new head coach in place. On Thursday, it was announced that they had hired JJ Redick and signed him to a four-year deal.

Redick had reportedly been their top candidate for the last few weeks, even though they made a brief and stunning attempt to lure Dan Hurley away from the University of Connecticut. Redick, who is about to turn 40 years of age, spent 15 seasons in the NBA as a 3-point specialist, but he has virtually no coaching experience of any kind.

Therefore, the Lakers reportedly want to add multiple former head coaches to his staff, apparently in order to ease his transition. One big candidate is Scott Brooks.

Via Los Angeles Times:

“The Lakers are expected to add multiple former head coaches to Redick’s staff, people with knowledge of staff recruitment said,” wrote Dan Woike. “Former Oklahoma City Thunder and Washington Wizards coach Scott Brooks is a name that’s been linked to the Lakers.”

Brooks most notably coached the Oklahoma City Thunder for seven seasons, beginning with the 2008-09 campaign. He got them to the NBA Finals in 2012, and he has experience working with big-name stars, as he coached Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and James Harden there.

Former Lakers players Rajon Rondo and Jared Dudley had been previously mentioned as candidates for Redick’s staff, and it looks like that hasn’t changed.

Via The Athletic:

“Assistant coaching candidates for Redick’s staff will include former head coach and recent [Portland] Trail Blazers assistant Scott Brooks, former Lakers guard Rajon Rondo, ex-Laker and current Dallas Mavericks assistant Jared Dudley and Cassell, according to league sources,” wrote Shams Charnia and Sam Amick.

With the 2024 NBA draft less than a week away, the Lakers can soon turn their full attention to upgrading a roster that is playoff-caliber but not championship-caliber.

Lakers have three targets for JJ Redick’s potential coaching staff

JJ Redick is the favorite to become the Lakers’ next head coach, and his staff may be starting to take shape.

For a little while, it has been rumored that JJ Redick is the favorite to land the Los Angeles Lakers’ open head coaching job. It is a polarizing prospect.  Redick has a sharp mind for the strategic breakdown of basketball, but he has no coaching experience.

In addition, his relationship with LeBron James as his co-host on the “Mind the Game” podcast has led some to believe he wouldn’t hold the superstar accountable.

Yet it is gradually looking more and more like Redick could be the Lakers’ next head coach.

If that happens, James Borrego, Sam Cassell and Jared Dudley would be candidates for his staff (h/t Lakers Daily).

Via Marc Stein Substack:

“League sources say fellow Lakers search candidates Sam Cassell (Boston) and James Borrego (New Orleans) would be prime targets for Redick’s staff as well as an expected run at trying to bring Mavericks assistant coach Jared Dudley back to Lakerland,” Stein wrote. “As a Lakers player for the final two seasons of his career in 2019-20 and 2020-21, Dudley had strong relationships with both LeBron James and Anthony Davis.”

Although Dudley barely played for the Lakers during the 2019-20 season when they won the NBA championship, his veteran leadership, plus his ability and willingness to hold teammates accountable, was invaluable.

Borrego and Cassell happen to be the other two head coaching candidates Los Angeles has interviewed so far other than Redick.

If the team does hire Redick, it may not become official until late June. That is because Redick is a member of ESPN’s NBA broadcast crew, which means the Lakers may want to respect his obligations until the end of the NBA Finals.

Jared Dudley shares story on teaming up with Michael Jordan

Jared Dudley shares basketball stories on the Tidal Leauge Podcast with Theo Pinson, including a story about basketball camp with Michael Jordan.

Former NBA player Jared Dudley joined [autotag]Theo Pinson[/autotag] on the Tidal League podcast to share a story about the time he played alongside Michael Jordan at a camp that may have led to him getting drafted by the Charlotte Bobcats.

Pinson was back on the couch for another classic interview featuring Dudley, talking basketball and sharing stories. According to Dudley, during his senior year, he attended one of Jordan’s camps in Santa Barbara and had the opportunity to play on Jordan’s team.

Dudley explains how he delivered one of his best shooting performances, impressing Jordan.

The Bobcats selected Dudley with the 22nd overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft. Dudley built quite the resume in both college and the pros. He was 2X All-ACC, 2006-07 ACC player of the year, and averaged 15.9 points and 7.2 rebounds in four years at Boston College. Dudley had a lengthy career in the NBA, retiring after 14 seasons and an NBA championship with the Lakers in 2020.

Dudley now serves as an assistant coach for the Dallas Mavericks.

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Lakers news: The best tweets from Anthony Davis’ wedding

See the best action from Anthony Davis’ wedding, including appearances from current and former members of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Los Angeles Lakers big man Anthony Davis added another ring to his collection.

Davis got married to his partner, Marlen P., Saturday and had plenty of notable stars in attendance.

Among the big names who came out included LeBron James and Russell Westbrook, the other two members of Los Angeles’ new star trio.

Jared Dudley, who recently left for the Dallas Mavericks to be an assistant coach, also came to attend as his relationship with players on the Lakers is still strong.

Quinn Cook, a former Laker alongside Davis, was another member in attendance, along with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Caldwell-Pope was involved in the trade for Westbrook.

See the best tweets from all the action Saturday:

Report: Jared Dudley wanted to either play for Lakers or retire

Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Jared Dudley reportedly wasn’t looking to play anywhere else. It was the Los Angeles Lakers or bust.

The Los Angeles Lakers have seen an influx of players arrive in free agency, but some had their tenure with the franchise come to an end.

One of them was Jared Dudley, who spent his last two seasons with the Lakers. Dudley featured on the court more often in his first season compared to his second because of a ligament tear in his knee; he usually wasn’t in the rotation either his second season as the team’s 15th man.

After the Lakers came down to needing three more roster spots to be filled this summer, the plan was to use only two of them on a third point guard and a wing. Rajon Rondo eventually came in as the third guard.

Those intentions pushed Dudley, who was a free agent, out of the picture for a roster spot next season. Instead, the Dallas Mavericks picked up Dudley to be an assistant coach on Jason Kidd’s staff.

Despite LeBron James and Anthony Davis’ pleas for Dudley’s return, the Lakers front office wasn’t on the same page.

According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Dudley didn’t want to play anywhere else but the Lakers:

“Jared Dudley told me he was either going back to the Lakers, or he was going to retire. He wasn’t looking to go anywhere else and play.”

There was speculation L.A. could’ve given Dudley a front-office or coaching role to avoid losing his presence on the sidelines, but that never materialized.

Now, Dudley, a 14-year veteran on the court, will begin the next chapter of his career in the NBA.

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2021-22 key dates: When the Lakers play members of last season’s roster

Here’s when the Los Angeles Lakers will have reunions with players from last season’s team.

The Los Angeles Lakers completely overhauled the roster this offseason after acquiring Russell Westbrook from the Washington Wizards.

Los Angeles also had over 10 free agents entering the market in the summer, and retaining everyone wasn’t a plausible outcome given the conclusion to the season.

The Lakers were also in a tough financial position after absorbing Westbrook’s $40 million salary. Signing players in free agency wouldn’t be easy since L.A. basically had only the $5.9 taxpayer MLE to play with; L.A. allocated the entire MLE to Kendrick Nunn.

With all the incoming veterans L.A. inked to minimum deals, they also let many notable free agents, like Alex Caruso, walk to a new franchise.

Let’s look at when the Lakers will have reunions with former players in the new season:

LeBron, Anthony Davis wanted Jared Dudley back; Lakers’ front office disagreed

LeBron James and Anthony Davis both vouched for Jared Dudley to return to the Los Angeles Lakers, but not everyone was on the same page.

Jared Dudley’s departure from the Los Angeles Lakers has left people in the L.A. world confused about the exit.

Though Dudley didn’t make much of an impact on the court anymore, his presence on the sidelines and in the locker room became an invaluable piece to the franchise.

However, with Dudley entering the free-agent market as an unrestricted player, his future with the franchise was up in the air.

The Lakers weren’t in a rush to re-sign him to a third minimum deal, and a report indicated his time with the team seemed over since L.A. wanted a third point guard and a wing, pushing Dudley out of the picture.

Then, reports said the Dallas Mavericks hired Dudley to be an assistant coach on Jason Kidd’s staff, ending any chance of Dudley’s return to L.A. in some capacity.

Because of Dudley’s presence, and how close he is with teammates LeBron James and Anthony Davis, it was surprising for some that Dudley didn’t return.

In an interview with Bill Plaschke of The Los Angeles Times, Dudley revealed his superstar duo did want him back, but the front office wanted to go a different direction:

“Obviously LeBron and A.D. wanted me back,” said Dudley. “But we just couldn’t convince them.”

“No one owed me anything, Rob and Kurt were honest and upfront, nothing but respect and gratitude to them and Jeanie [Buss], I will be forever thankful for the opportunity they gave me,” Dudley said. “But I did want to come back. I did think I could help the team, especially having so many new players, but I understand they wanted to get younger.”

Dudley said he talked to Rob Pelinka and Kurt Rambis and, though he respected their decision, he didn’t agree with them not wanting him back:

“I talked to Rob and Kurt, I thanked them, but I told them, you’re valuing youth more than a locker room presence guy,” Dudley said. “I said, ‘I respect you for doing that, but I think you’re wrong,’”

Based on James’ reaction to the news on Twitter, he’s hurt Dudley won’t be around anymore as the glue guy behind the scenes.

Instead, the Lakers will move on and find new faces to pencil in the remaining roster spots.

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Jared Dudley reveals his takeaways from time with Lakers

Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Jared Dudley explained what he’ll take away from his two seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers.

After a 14-year career in the NBA, Jared Dudley is ending his tenure as a player, but he’s about to start a new chapter.

The Dallas Mavericks hired Dudley to join Jason Kidd’s staff as an assistant coach; Kidd was an assistant with the Los Angeles Lakers for the last two seasons, but Dallas snagged him for their head coaching vacancy.

The move ended Dudley’s two-year stint with the Lakers, which included a championship run in his first season with the franchise.

Though his second season wasn’t as fruitful because of a serious knee injury, he became revered for his leadership on the sidelines.

There was speculation the Lakers could keep Dudley in a front-office or coaching role since his playing days seemed to be over, but that won’t be the case.

Dudley revealed what he’ll take away from his time with the organization in a Twitter response to a fan:

Dudley mentioned playing with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, two players he personally thanked in a farewell post shortly after the news became official.

James reacted to the news on Twitter and definitely seemed upset Dudley is leaving for a new team, but he’s still happy for his good friend.

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Jared Dudley thanks LeBron James, Anthony Davis and entire Lakers organization in farewell post

Jared Dudley personally thanked LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the Los Angeles Lakers staff as he departs to the Dallas Mavericks.

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:

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.

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