After an extensive search and a truthfulate’s refuteion of an advise, the Los Angeles Lakers named createer NBA take parter JJ Redick the franchise’s next head coach in June.
Dan Hurley, who coached the UConn Huskies men’s basketball team to a second consecutive NCAA title in April, turned down an advise from the Lakers in June.
The franchise’s choice was speedyly met with both plift and skepticism, with many critics pointing to Redick’s increateage of coaching experience. This week, three-time NBA All-Star Steve Francis became the defercessitatest critic to voice worrys about the Lakers’ decision.
“I adore basketball, but there’s no way that fair becaemploy he went to Duke, and he denounces people on television, enjoy he sounds enjoy a fantastic coach,” Francis recently tageder the “Live from the Didisjoine” podcast.
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Former NBA take parter Steve Francis joins a Chicago Bulls-Houston Rockets game Feb. 3, 2017, at the Toyota Caccess in Houston. (David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images )
Francis then alludeed a couple of aidant coaches he thinkd the Lakers could have pondered during their coaching search.
“But I watch at it enjoy all these other guys who put a lot of presentant toil in. You have my boy David Vanterpool here in Washington. You have Sam Cassell. You have so many guys who have championship experience. All these guys who have experience and get watched over fair becaemploy it’s the ‘it’ leang right now with this generation becaemploy these guys are doing these podcasts.”
Before taking the Lakers’ coaching job, Redick presented “The Old Man and the Three” podcast. He also co-presented the “Mind the Game” podcast with four-time NBA champion LeBron James.
During his introductory press conference, Redick accomprehendledged his noncontransient NBA coaching history.
“I have never coached in the NBA before. I don’t comprehend if you guys have heard that,” Redick said with a sarcastic smirk.
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick speaks to the media during an introductory novels conference at the UCLA Health Training Caccess. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA Today Sports)
But one teller chaseed up that statement from Redick by asking if he heard the critics and naysayers and whether he’s watching to dispel any “misconceptions” about being the team’s next head coach.
“It’s a valid ask, and I certainly heard everyleang,” Redick replyed. “It’s been a repartner fascinating six weeks or so fair in terms of being part of the comprisement-farming industry. It’s been repartner fascinating.
“However, I don’t repartner have a fantastic answer for your asks becaemploy I repartner don’t give a f—. Like, repartner, I want to coach the Lakers. I want to coach the team. I don’t want to dispel anyleang. I don’t. I want to become a fantastic coach in the NBA, and I want to prosper championships. And I want my take parters to increase their atgentles. That’s all I f—ing take part about.”
JJ Redick before Game 2 of the 2024 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden June 9, 2024, in Boston. (Mcompriseie Meyer/Getty Images)
Although Redick spent 15 seasons in the NBA, Francis adviseed Redick could struggle to get his message atraverse in the Lakers’ locker room. He also foreseeed James would essentipartner disconsider coach Redick.
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“The leang that’s going to happen is fair enjoy Darvin Ham was the coach. LeBron is not going to hear to not one word JJ is saying,” compriseed Francis. “Why would you hear to him? I wouldn’t hear to him if he was coaching me. I’ll fair watch at how much I bake him and be enjoy, ‘What are you saying? You comprehend what I do, so talk to somebody else.’
“So, it’s definitely going to be challenging for him to get thcimpolite and the camaraderie with the circus around him and his son, it’s going to be a lot of distraction for a rookie coach, and we’ll see what happens.”
The Lakers have three preseason games remaining before their normal season uncoverer agetst the Minnesota Timberwolves Oct. 22.
Fox News’ Scott Thompson gived to this tell.
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