JJ Redick was formally launched as the following Los Angeles Lakers head coach on Monday afternoon, and he knew he was going to face a query concerning his lack of expertise.
He was ready for it.
“I’ve by no means coached within the NBA earlier than. I don’t know in the event you guys have heard that,” Redick mentioned with a sarcastic smirk.
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The Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick speaks to the media throughout an introductory information convention, as common supervisor Rob Pelinka listens, on the UCLA Well being Coaching Middle. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA At the moment Sports activities)
However one reporter adopted up that assertion from Redick by asking if he heard the critics and naysayers, and whether or not he is trying to dispel any “misconceptions” about being the staff’s subsequent head coach.
“It’s a sound query and I actually heard all the pieces,” Redick responded. “It’s been a extremely fascinating six weeks or so simply by way of being a part of the engagement-farming trade. It’s been actually fascinating.
“Nonetheless, I don’t actually have an important reply on your questions as a result of I actually don’t give a f—. Like actually, I need to coach the Lakers. I need to coach the staff. I don’t need to dispel something. I don’t. I need to turn out to be an important coach within the NBA, and I need to win championships. And I would like my gamers to maximise their careers. That’s all I f—ing care about.”
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Redick went on to clarify his motivation for becoming a member of the Lakers as their new head coach regardless of not being a coach earlier than in his profession. The previous sharpshooter went into sports activities media after his enjoying profession got here to an finish.
“My motivation for doing this, it begins with a quite simple basis of service,” he defined. “I take into consideration the best moments, particularly in direction of the top of my profession, was about serving to gamers. It begins with the will to serve gamers, to serve the Lakers group, to serve our followers. It’s additionally about competitors and efficiency, collaboration, management. These are the issues that drive me.”
Redick additionally famous that he will not be podcasting anymore, particularly together with his “Thoughts the Recreation” pod he did with Lakers star LeBron James.
The Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick laughs with members of the media following his introductory information convention on the UCLA Well being Coaching Middle. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports activities)
Talking of James, Redick’s connection to the all-time main scorer in NBA historical past was instantly pegged as a cause he landed in Los Angeles.
Nonetheless, Redick defined that he solely spoke to James, who is predicted to decide out of his Lakers contract and enter free company, after he acquired the job supply from GM Rob Pelinka.
“LeBron and I didn’t discuss concerning the Lakers’ job till Thursday afternoon about half-hour after I used to be provided the job, and that was very intentional on each our elements,” Redick mentioned. “I had an understanding that he didn’t need to be concerned on this, and for me, I didn’t need to go down the a part of hypotheticals with somebody that I think about a good friend and somebody I’ve a large amount of respect for.”
Redick’s first teaching job comes with a franchise identified for its historical past of dominance within the league, and he understands these expectations.
The Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick speaks to the media throughout an introductory information convention on the UCLA Well being Coaching Middle. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA At the moment Sports activities)
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“Sitting on this seat, I do know what the expectations are,” he mentioned. “Lakers followers have a few of the most passionate followers all over the world and the expectation is a championship. It’s my job, it’s our employees’s job, it’s Rob’s job, it’s all of us to ship a championship-caliber staff. That’s what I signed up for.”
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