Home Basketball LeBron proposes Redick as a coach for the Lakers, believing that Redick’s coaching talent will rejuvenate the Lakers and bring back the era of NBA championships

LeBron proposes Redick as a coach for the Lakers, believing that Redick’s coaching talent will rejuvenate the Lakers and bring back the era of NBA championships

Basketball — 05/04/2024

Redick, Budenholzer and Lue emerge as potential candidates to succeed Darvin Ham

Three days after the Los Angeles Lakers were ousted from the NBA Playoffs by the Denver Nuggets for the second consecutive year, head coach Darvin Ham was let go by the team on Friday.

With the Lakers, Ham managed just two seasons, leading the team to a 90-74 regular season record. Additionally, the former Milwaukee Bucks assistant led Los Angeles to both an In-Season Tournament title this year and a trip to the Western Conference Finals last season. Ham’s post-season record was 9–12.

NBA_Lakers Coach Replacements

This season, there have been multiple rumors alleging that there is a rift in the Lakers’ locker room between players, particularly Darvin Ham. Before Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves, and D’Angelo Russell completed the starting five, Ham benched several key players that helped Los Angeles advance to the Western Conference Finals during the season.

The Lakers firing Darvin Ham was a predictable move. So ... now what? - Yahoo Sports

Mike Budenholzer, Tyronn Lue, and JJ Redick were on the shortlist to succeed Ham, according to reports from Shams Charania and Jovan Buha of The Athletic shortly after his firing.

The Stated AspirantsAmong them, two have served as head coaches.

Tyronn Lue, Los Angeles Clippers

Ham received mentoring from Gregg Popovich protégé Budenholzer, who helped the Milwaukee Bucks win the NBA Championship in 2021. In addition to winning two NBA Coach of the Year awards, he also collected four NBA championships in his role as an assistant coach. Along with this, he was extremely successful in Atlanta during his first stint as an NBA head coach, helping the Hawks to their greatest regular season record ever.

Lue and LeBron James have a well-established relationship because they shared a championship in Cleveland in 2016. Before contract disagreements caused the deal to fall through and Frank Vogel was appointed in his place, Lue was infamously pinned to become the Lakers’ new coach in 2019. Although Lue is the Los Angeles Clippers’ head coach at the moment, many in the league think he might become available if the team is eliminated from the playoffs before it’s time. Lue is close to James and the Lakers organization as well because he was a player for the Lakers and won two championships there.

Lakers fire coach Darvin Ham in the wake of playoff loss - Los Angeles Times

Despite not having any prior NBA coaching experience, Redick, a former player, has expressed interest in the position by interviewing for the Charlotte Hornets post. JJ Redick is connected to LeBron James, just like Tyronn Lue. Currently, the two co-host a podcast called Mind the Game, in which they try to educate listeners by b𝔯𝔢aking down the Xs and Os of basketball. Redick not only hosts podcasts but also works as an analyst for ESPN.

Additionally mentioned as potential candidates are Los Angeles Lakers assistant Phil Handy and former Brooklyn Nets coach Kenny Atkinson.