Lakers’ JJ Redick Already Trending as Coach of the Year Candidate [Video]

A first-time NBA head coach has already emerged as a potential Coach of the Year candidate.

Former 15-year sharpshooting combo guard JJ Redick hung up his microphone, despite a lucrative post-playing career as a podcaster and an ESPN commentator, to join his former “Mind The Game” co-host LeBron James‘ Los Angeles Lakers as the club’s latest head coach for the 2024-25 NBA season.

So far, the hire has looked like a savvy one.

Read more: Lakers’ JJ Redick Storms Out Of Press Conference After Another Frustrating Loss

The Lakers have gotten off to a 7-4 record, good for the No. 6 seed in a loaded Western Conference. L.A. started off 3-0 before crashing to earth a bit. In their first 11 games last season with more or less the same lineup, the then-Darvin Ham-coached Lakers were a quite similar 6-5.