JJ Redick has been appointed as the Los Angeles Lakers' coach under a four-year contract

JJ Redick has accepted a four-year contract to become the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, reports ESPN. The Lakers, a prestigious NBA franchise boasting 17 championships, dismissed coach Darvin Ham in May after a disappointing first-round playoff exit, ending his two-year tenure.

Over the past weekend, Redick, who is an ESPN NBA analyst and a former player with 15 years in the league, held discussions with Lakers vice president and general manager Rob Pelinka and owner Jeanie Buss. Talks about the coaching position continued into the week, according to sources.

Pelinka extended the coaching offer to Redick on Thursday morning, as per sources.

Although Redick lacks coaching experience, he brings a wealth of player experience, having been in the NBA from 2006 to 2021. He began his professional career with the Orlando Magic, who drafted him 11th overall from Duke, and also played for teams including the Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, New Orleans Pelicans, Milwaukee Bucks, and Dallas Mavericks. Renowned for his sharpshooting, Redick boasts a career 3-point shooting percentage of 41.5%.

After retiring in September 2021, Redick transitioned to a role as a basketball commentator for ESPN.

At 39, Redick is also celebrated as one of the finest college basketball players of all time. As Duke’s leading scorer with 2,769 points, he averaged 19.9 points per game over four seasons and received numerous accolades including the national college player of the year in 2006, two-time All-American, two-time ACC Player of the Year, and two-time ACC tournament MVP.

Despite the presence of stars like LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers have struggled to meet expectations in recent years, advancing beyond the first round of the playoffs only once since their 2020 NBA Finals victory.

LeBron James, a star player for the Lakers, and Redick co-host a basketball podcast. The two have a close friendship.