JJ Redick Takes on One of the NBA’s Most Daunting Jobs
JJ Redick has just embarked on one of the most challenging jobs in the NBA, and it's now official. However, it's not simply because he is coaching the Lakers, a role he accepted on Thursday with a four-year deal. The truly daunting task that Redick faces is coaching LeBron James.
On the degree of difficulty scale, coaching LeBron almost maxes out. Yes, LeBron is still a stunning talent, and paired with Anthony Davis, he provides a legitimate chance at success. Also, LeBron's high profile and basketball savant qualities are attractive elements that any budding head coach would crave to elevate the start of their career. Moreover, coaching the Los Angeles Lakers offers an unparalleled opportunity. It's one of only 30 such jobs globally, swathed in purple and gold, with all the prestige those storied colors command.
However, there is undoubted pressure to win. Immediately. Or rather, yesterday. LeBron, with his exacting standards, frenetic drive, and ability to oscillate between affection and something akin to a freeze-out, can be as treacherous as he is remarkable to coach.
LeBron’s Coaching History
Consider the coaching history surrounding LeBron's awe-inspiring career. LeBron has had eight full-time head coaches. Only two — Erik Spoelstra and Ty Lue — were not dismissed during his tenure.
Five coaches were fired, and Luke Walton "mutually parted ways" with the Lakers in 2019 before taking up the job with the Kings. It’s noteworthy that during his first year in Miami, LeBron wanted Spoelstra fired but was famously vetoed by Pat Riley, showcasing Riley's rare ability to tell LeBron no. This instance highlighted the difficulties and challenges that can arise when the glitter and promise of a LeBron James team confront some kind of not-so-sexy reality.
With Ty Lue, he stepped into the role after David Blatt, whom he was the top assistant coach to, was fired despite having a 30-11 record at the time of his dismissal in 2016. That team went on to win an NBA Championship.
The Perils and Prestige of Coaching LeBron
It's worth emphasizing that while both Lue and Spoelstra won titles with LeBron, a championship ring does not immunize a coach from being dealt a bad hand and subsequently fired. Only three years ago, Frank Vogel coached the Lakers to an NBA championship. Two seasons later, he was gone.
Describing coaching LeBron James as a poisoned chalice would be disingenuous and lacking in nuance. It would ignore his greatness. However, the job isn’t exactly a professional fountain of youth, either. LeBron James can bring you glory, but he can also be extremely challenging to coach.
LeBron possesses power within front offices and locker rooms, and he’s not afraid to wield it. Similar to Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, part of LeBron's approach includes personality traits that might be seen as flaws if not for the greatness they help produce. Such is the case with stars. They shine incandescently, but they can also burn you up if you don’t navigate them properly.
The Current State of the Lakers
At present, the Lakers aren’t that good. The tandem of LeBron and Davis is insufficient. For two consecutive years, they've been dominated and sent home during the playoffs by the Denver Nuggets. With LeBron turning 40 later this year and the Western Conference looking unbelievably deep next season — potentially 13 teams deep — Los Angeles not making the playoffs in Redick's first season is a plausible scenario.
Redick’s prior podcast partnership with LeBron James raises questions. Does this protect him from the potential pitfalls of coaching an underwhelming LeBron James team? Does he possess the temperament, humility, and media-management skills necessary to endure the tough times before things improve? Does his brief TV experience afford him the skills to navigate the challenges surrounding LeBron James' teams? And, fundamentally, can he coach?
Perhaps the answer to all these questions will be an emphatic yes. Redick is about to test these queries, and they may define this new stage of his career under the most challenging of situations: coaching LeBron James, where the stakes are high and any problems that arise will almost certainly be laid at his feet.