When the Los Angeles Lakers named 14-year NBA veteran JJ Redick as their new head coach this past summer, the move was met with widespread skepticism. Redick, known more recently for his popular sports podcast than his on-court heroics, had zero NBA coaching experience. Critics slammed the hire as a publicity stunt catering to Lakers star LeBron James, who had recently appeared on Redick’s show.
Fast forward to today, and those critics have grown awfully quiet. Thirteen games into the season, Redick’s Lakers boast a 9-4 record, good for 4th place in the hyper-competitive Western Conference. While it’s still early, Redick is making a compelling case that extensive prior coaching experience may be an overrated prerequisite for NBA head coaching jobs.
The Basketball “Sicko” Effect
Redick’s secret sauce? An all-consuming, self-professed obsession with the game of basketball. He lives and breathes hoops to an almost maniacal degree, a trait he proudly refers to as being a “basketball sicko.” According to one source, Redick was once spotted reviewing game film while going through a car wash. Now that’s dedication.
Somebody who’s obsessed with basketball, someone who’s willing to get into the weeds all the time … Somehow every connection in my life has been formed or reinforced through the game of basketball.
JJ Redick on defining a “basketball sicko”
This fanatical passion for the game seems to be resonating with players. Lakers stars have praised Redick’s preparedness, attention to detail, and creative game plans. Guard Max Christie lauded the rookie coach’s infectious enthusiasm. “He’s very enthusiastic,” Christie noted. “Enthusiastic about the game, about winning, about us. About everything he does.”
Bucking Convention
Redick’s early success stands in stark contrast to the struggles of veteran head coaches like Doc Rivers, whose star-studded Milwaukee Bucks have stumbled to a 4-9 start. Rivers’ pedigree and past accomplishments no doubt factored heavily into his hiring. But the Bucks’ woes, juxtaposed with the Lakers’ impressive start under a newbie coach, raise valid questions about the assumed correlation between coaching experience and success.
Rookie head coaches may actually offer some unique advantages. Unencumbered by past habits or preconceived notions, they may be more open to innovative strategies and unorthodox approaches. And in the case of recently retired players like Redick, that built-in credibility and relatability with current players cannot be discounted.
A New Coaching Prototype?
If Redick’s Lakers can maintain their impressive pace, it could usher in a new archetype for NBA head coaches. A respected former player, intimately familiar with the modern game, brimming with passion and fresh ideas, and unafraid to challenge the status quo. In other words, a “basketball sicko” in the mold of Redick and his coaching idol, Pat Riley.
The annals of NBA history are littered with celebrated players turned successful coaches, from Riley to Steve Kerr to Doc Rivers himself. Still, teams have remained hesitant to hand the reins to coaching novices. The specter of failed player-coach experiments like Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas still looms large.
But Redick’s early returns with the Lakers suggest that, for the right candidate, a lack of formal coaching experience need not be a dealbreaker. If you can find a “sicko” with the right combination of basketball IQ, leadership skills, and indomitable drive, rolling the dice on an unproven coach might just pay off in a big way.
Only time will tell if JJ Redick’s Lakers are for real, or if the “basketball sicko” is the NBA’s next great coaching prototype. But one thing is certain: the rest of the league is paying very close attention. The ripple effects from Redick’s high-profile coaching leap could reshape the NBA head coaching landscape for years to come.
This fanatical passion for the game seems to be resonating with players. Lakers stars have praised Redick’s preparedness, attention to detail, and creative game plans. Guard Max Christie lauded the rookie coach’s infectious enthusiasm. “He’s very enthusiastic,” Christie noted. “Enthusiastic about the game, about winning, about us. About everything he does.”
Bucking Convention
Redick’s early success stands in stark contrast to the struggles of veteran head coaches like Doc Rivers, whose star-studded Milwaukee Bucks have stumbled to a 4-9 start. Rivers’ pedigree and past accomplishments no doubt factored heavily into his hiring. But the Bucks’ woes, juxtaposed with the Lakers’ impressive start under a newbie coach, raise valid questions about the assumed correlation between coaching experience and success.
Rookie head coaches may actually offer some unique advantages. Unencumbered by past habits or preconceived notions, they may be more open to innovative strategies and unorthodox approaches. And in the case of recently retired players like Redick, that built-in credibility and relatability with current players cannot be discounted.
A New Coaching Prototype?
If Redick’s Lakers can maintain their impressive pace, it could usher in a new archetype for NBA head coaches. A respected former player, intimately familiar with the modern game, brimming with passion and fresh ideas, and unafraid to challenge the status quo. In other words, a “basketball sicko” in the mold of Redick and his coaching idol, Pat Riley.
The annals of NBA history are littered with celebrated players turned successful coaches, from Riley to Steve Kerr to Doc Rivers himself. Still, teams have remained hesitant to hand the reins to coaching novices. The specter of failed player-coach experiments like Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas still looms large.
But Redick’s early returns with the Lakers suggest that, for the right candidate, a lack of formal coaching experience need not be a dealbreaker. If you can find a “sicko” with the right combination of basketball IQ, leadership skills, and indomitable drive, rolling the dice on an unproven coach might just pay off in a big way.
Only time will tell if JJ Redick’s Lakers are for real, or if the “basketball sicko” is the NBA’s next great coaching prototype. But one thing is certain: the rest of the league is paying very close attention. The ripple effects from Redick’s high-profile coaching leap could reshape the NBA head coaching landscape for years to come.
