Buss: Lakers wanted Redick because he would focus on developing players
Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss says the organization wanted to hire JJ Redick as head coach because he would focus on player development.
"We wanted to kind of think a different way," Buss said, according to CBS Sports' Jack Maloney. "I'm not comfortable talking about the basketball stuff, but we were looking for a candidate that would bring something different and really invest in developing young players. JJ is the right person for us."
Lakers superstar LeBron James will turn 40 during the 2024-25 season and has had a busy offseason, winning the gold medal - and tournament MVP - at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Since James arrived in Los Angeles ahead of the 2018-19 season, the Lakers have surrounded him with veteran players on cheap contracts. The results have been mixed.
L.A. won the title in the 2019-2020 season with veterans such as Danny Green, Dwight Howard, and Rajon Rondo, but the organization sputtered over the previous two years. They were swept in the conference finals against the Denver Nuggets in the 2023 postseason and only managed to win one playoff contest in 2024, losing to the Nuggets in the opening round.
"I think part of being a coach, right, is, like, 'Can I maximize each player?' That helps maximize the group," Redick told reporters in his introductory press conference.
L.A. struggled to get contributions from its rookie class last season. Jalen Hood-Schifino (17th pick), Maxwell Lewis (40th pick), and Colin Castleton (undrafted two-way) only played in a combined 71 games with the club.
The Lakers drafted 23-year-old Dalton Knecht with the 17th selection in this year's draft, and LeBron's son, Bronny James, with the 55th pick.
The team also invested in third-year player Max Christie, inking the former Michigan State guard to a four-year, $32-million deal.
To help shepherd the young players, Redick brought in former head coaches Nate McMillan and Scott Brooks, who have 23 and 20 years of coaching experience, respectively.
"I'm really impressed with (Redick's) staff," Buss said, per Maloney. "There's a lot of experience that will be there for him to make that adjustment to being a head coach."
The Lakers will kick off their preseason campaign on Oct. 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. L.A. will then host the Timberwolves on Oct. 22 for its season opener.