JJ Redick was appointed as the head coach of the Lakers in June, and to this day speculators speculate that LeBron James had something to do in his appointment, as they have known each other for ages. Just months before Redick got the job, the duo (Redick and LeBron James) had launched the Mind the Game podcast in March 2024.
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Stephen A Smith Goes Hard on LeBron James
While the podcast showcased the pair's immense knowledge about the game, it did not go well with famed analyst Stephen A. Smith, who criticised LeBron and the Lakers for allegedly disrespecting Ham by hiring Redick.
“How the h*** are you gonna have a podcast about basketball and the nuances and the expertise and the intricacies of basketball with JJ Redick, who you knew was aspiring to be a head coach?” the longtime sports broadcaster said on The Stephen A. Smith Show, “And you [LeBron] knew you wanted Darvin Ham out.”
Stephen A. blasted LeBron for seemingly pushing Ham out in favor of his podcast partner. "LeBron James, that's a classic case of spitting in someone's face and saying it's raining," he said.
The Lakers historically had short stints with their coaches, and Ham was no exception. Despite leading the team to a 90-74 record and a Western Conference Finals appearance in 2022-23. Ham did not have a long stay with the Lakers. Stephen A. emphasized that Redick, an aspiring coach with limited experience since retiring as a player in 2021, wasn't at fault. He then shifted his focus to the Lakers' reported interest in UConn head coach Dan Hurley.
“When [Los Angeles] offered Danny Hurley, I thought you wanted Danny Hurley in the organization until you offered him $11 million.” Smith believed this was a purposefully low-ball offer considering Hurley’s elite collegiate track record and the relative salaries of other top coaches.
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LeBron James Denies Having Anything to do With Redick's Appointment
JJ Redick's appointment brought LeBron James in the fray for apparently using his stature to influence the decision. However, LBJ has paid heed to the subject before and had stated that he had minimal involvement in the team's decision-making process.
JJ Redick revealed to the media that he didn't discuss the coaching position with LeBron James until after he had already been offered the job. Redick explained that he was aware of LeBron's desire to remain uninvolved in the coaching search, so the two intentionally delayed their conversation about the role until 30 minutes after Redick's hiring was confirmed.