After being booted from the playoffs in a five-game first-round "gentleman's sweep" at the hands of the Denver Nuggets, the Los Angeles Lakers fired now-former head coach Darvin Ham. Ham had just wrapped up only his second season with the club, having led Los Angeles to a 90-74 overall regular season record and two playoff appearances, including a run to the Western Conference Finals in 2023. Denver, unfortunately, was waiting then, too. The Nuggets swept L.A. in four close games.
Los Angeles has cycled through six head coaches in the 13 years since Hall of Famer Phil Jackson's departure from the team. Now, No. 7 appears to be waiting in the wings.
Shams Charania of The Athletic reports that, according to multiple sources, Lakers team president Rob Pelinka and owner Jeanie Buss seem to be closing in on their next head coach pick.
The team is apparently still doing its due diligence with other head coaching candidates and has yet to make a final decision, but 15-year NBA sharpshooter-turned-ESPN commentator and podcaster extraordinaire JJ Redick has emerged as L.A.'s choice to steward its roster through the 2024-25 season and beyond.
Beyond Redick, who hopped straight into media after retiring in 2021, Los Angeles seems to be focused on elevating a well-regarded assistant coach, much as it did with Ham — who was a longtime lieutenant under Mike Budenholzer with the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks.
To wit, L.A. has thus far interviewed New Orleans Pelicans assistant coach James Borrego, All-Star point guard-turned-Boston Celtics assistant coach Sam Cassell, journeyman point guard-turned-Miami Heat assistant coach Chris Quinn, Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori and Denver Nuggets assistant David Adelman. At least Quinn, Nori, and Adelman have all spoken with the Cleveland Cavaliers about their own head coaching vacancy, as well.
Redick may have multiple odds stacked in his favor. Beyond being a perpetual presence on major national game broadcasts, he's also a co-host of the excellent new "Mind The Game" pod with Los Angeles Lakers All-NBA forward LeBron James. Redick's former head coach at Duke, Mike Krzyzewski (who also coached James on the 2008 and '12 gold medal-winning U.S. men's basketball teams during the Olympics), has been serving as an unofficial consultant for L.A. during this process.
The Lakers are hoping that, whoever their next coach ultimately is, he or she will be able to guide the franchise both through the end of its run with the 39-year-old James and 31-year-old All-Star center Anthony Davis and beyond it. The Purple and Gold have not gotten comfortable enough to retain any head coach beyond three seasons since Jackson's departure, despite being led to their 17th title under Frank Vogel in 2019-20. The team is no doubt hoping to change that and find a long-term solution.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Newsweek contributing writer Alex Kirschenbaum is a hoops fanatic who has managed to parlay his passion into a writing career. ... Read more
