Los Angeles Lakers’ newly appointed head coach JJ Redick attended a press conference on Monday and acknowledged he has never coached in the NBA before. Redick, a former Laker, is known for his high Basketball IQ and he will look to get the job done for the team.

“I have never coached in the NBA before,” Redick said. “I don’t know if you guys have heard that.”

Redick had a 15-year-long career in the NBA and retired back in 2021. He is at 20th place in the list of most three-pointers in the NBA. 

Meanwhile, it is well known that Redick has a strong relationship with Lakers star LeBron James, with whom he co-hosts a basketball podcast.

Rob Pelinka, the Lakers’ General Manager, said the think tank is on the same page with the new head coach.

“I think in the industry in general and in sports in specific, sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in patterns of being in a sea of sameness and doing the same thing that everybody else is doing,” said Pelinka, who sat next to Redick during the news conference. “But when we embarked on this search, it was really important for us to see if we could do something a little bit different. And quickly in our conversations with JJ, it was very evident that he had a unique perspective and philosophy on basketball and how it’s to be taught.”

Redick agreed to a four-year contract last week and he will look to deliver the goods for the Lakers.

According to reports, University of Connecticut men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley was also offered the head coach role but turned down a six-year, $70 million contract from the Lakers.

“During that whole [courtship of Hurley], at no point was my ego or feelings hurt or bruised in any way,” Redick said. “Dan Hurley is a two-time national champion at UConn. I am a two-time 55 Swish League champion in the third- and fourth-grade division. Like, I understood, you know? I understood.”