JJ Redick was recently announced as the next head coach for the Los Angeles Lakers, and although he has received praise, there are also plenty of doubters questioning the hire.
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That is to say, Redick is fully aware of the skeptics, and claims that he doesn't care or rather, as he expressed with words from his mouth (cover your ears), he said, "I don't give a f***."
A new meme is born, thank you @jj_redick pic.twitter.com/fXCpAkxEmZ
— HTB ♨️ (@HenryTheBlasian) June 24, 2024
To put into context, the former NBA player was asked about the misconceptions/concerns he's looking forward to eliminating as he starts his new coaching job.
"I've certainly heard everything. Its been a really interesting six weeks or so... However, I don't really have a great answer for your question, because I really don't give a f***, like honestly. I want to coach the lakers, I want to coach the team, I don't want to dispel anything, I don't. I want to become a great coach in the NBA and I want to win championships, and I want my players' to maximize their careers, that's all I care about."
Redick used humor the rest of the press conference, evidently trying to alleviate the pressure placed on him by the media.
Bro thinks having zero experience is funny 😭😭
“I have never coached in the NBA before”
JJ Redick pic.twitter.com/REsNqDqiCW
— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) June 24, 2024
As many noted, Redick may have been the second choice behind the University of Connecticut basketball coach Dan Hurley, who was seemingly the Lakers No. 1 option to fill the team's vacant coaching job, before he turned it down.
"Dan Hurley is a two-time national champion at UConn," Redick responded. "I am a two-time 55 Swish League Champion in the 3rd and 4th grade division. I understood."
Broadcast journalism majors applying to ESPN their senior year pic.twitter.com/aXJc28E8w3
— Logan Reever (@loganreever) June 23, 2024
I’m actually coaching 8/9 year olds. Hoping to move up to middle school in the next 3-5 years.
— JJ Redick (@jj_redick) April 12, 2023
Redick's coaching resume looks pretty empty to say the least, but the Lakers players have all the confidence in him to lead the team. As the new coach highlighted that he has experience, as a player, as a commentator, and as a podcaster.
“I have zero coaching experience in the NBA, but I’d argue I’m very experienced.”
JJ Redick cites the last 3 years of podcast interviews, calling the finals, breaking down the game and interviewing for other coaching jobs as his way of learning to be an NBA head coach pic.twitter.com/aGsNdbUCrW
— 𝙉𝘼𝙅 (@najeeadams_) June 24, 2024
With that being said, to point out, in regards to the LeBron James and JJ's "Mind the Game" podcast that aired over the course of the last three months, many joked that this was Redick's job interview to be the next coach of the LakeShow.
The LeBron & Redick podcast was really just a job interview 😭 pic.twitter.com/F0JjiObQqP
— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) June 21, 2024
Fans got the news that now that the two podcasters are a part of the same organization, there will be no more podcast episodes.
JJ Redick says he’s done podcasting after becoming the Lakers head coach.
“For the time being… I am excommunicated from the content space. There will be no podcasts.”
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) June 24, 2024
Notably, after retiring from his 15-season NBA career (2006-21), Redick became an ESPN analyst since 2021.
ig/@dunk
The former Duke graduate has been commended for his basketball knowledge and expertise that he has showcased as a media personality, which fans hope can translate into wins for the Lakers during the upcoming 2024-25 season.
JJ Redick after the Lakers start the season 16-19 and LeBron starts tweeting random emojis...pic.twitter.com/ZhEMxmnN4W
— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) June 21, 2024
