NEW ERA
NBA fans make ‘he’s the next’ prediction about JJ Redick after being named LA Lakers coach to link up with LeBron James
Redick comes into the Lakers job with zero coaching experience
THE Los Angeles Lakers are hiring JJ Redick as the next head coach of the franchise.
After being considered the frontrunner during the interview process, the Lakers and Redick have put pen to paper on a four-year deal.
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Redick spent 15 years as a player in the NBA and has spent his time in retirement as an analyst.
The former Los Angeles Clipper has a highly-touted basketball mind, and that is what swayed Lakers vice president and general manager Rob Pelinka and owner Jeanie Buss.
Redick's basketball IQ ultimately swayed the executives at the Lakers and they reportedly believe that he will be able to connect with players well and have a short learning curve.
The ESPN analyst was the frontrunner for the job, but nearly missed out on the opportunity to UConn head coach Dan Hurley.
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The Lakers offered Hurley a six-year, $70 million deal which he turned down to stay at the college level.
They turned their attention back to Redick after the deal fell through.
It also didn't hurt that Redick has a strong relationship with LeBron James, with the duo hosting a basketball podcast together.
Redick will move into a tie for the third-youngest coach in the league at 39 years old.
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There are plenty of question marks surrounding Redick though, as he is taking over the Lakers with zero coaching experience.
He isn't the first to follow that path though, as multiple former players have been thrust into head coaching jobs with no experience.
LA Lakers hiring JJ Redick would have to be approved by LeBron James, claims former NBA star on Pat McAfee Show
Larry Bird, Doc Rivers, Mark Jackson, and Jason Kidd all started coaching without ever being an assistant, according to ESPN.
Fans have split opinions about the hiring, and shared their thoughts on social media.
"This either the greatest hire of all time or the worst hire… there’s no in between with this," one fan said.
"LAKERS ARE FINISHED," another fan said.
"Got the next Kerr everyone can kick rocks," a third fan said.
What the new TV deal means for the NBA?
By The U.S. Sun's Assistant Sports Editor Damian Burchardt.
THE new TV rights deal is promising to be a humongous win for NBA players.
The league is set to more than double the revenue coming from its media partners, pocketing about $6.9 billion per year, which will inevitably lead to a huge salary cap spike in 2025-26.
That is going to send the value of player contracts skyrocketing.
Projected figures suggest we might see the first $100 million-per-year deal being signed soon.
Currently, Boston Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown is projected to earn the highest single-season salary in NBA history, collecting $65.1 million in 2028-29.
It does feel like basketball fans would be on the losing side of the fight if the NBA and TNT indeed parted ways, though.
Inside the NBA is a one-of-a-kind sports entertainment show, as evidenced by ESPN's ongoing failure to come up with its own version of the program in recent years.
The NBA won't be the same without Kenny and Ernie trying to make sense of Shaq and Chuck's never-ending bickering every Tuesday night.
"Might be in the minority here, but I genuinely think JJ is going to be a fantastic coach," a fourth fan said.
"I can’t imagine this ending well," a fifth fan said.
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The Lakers will now look to retain LeBron who is a free agent this offseason.
His son Bronny is also in the NBA Draft and the Lakers are seen as the favorites to select him.
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