The pressure to deliver in the NBA is immense and coaches are being provided less time to build and develop teams. For the modern day coach, patience is a luxury they are rarely offered.
Former NBA player JJ Redick is the latest name to be thrown around for a head coaching position in the league with the 39-year-old linked to the vacancy with the Los Angeles Lakers. LeBron James recent appearances alongside Redick on his podcast have only fuelled speculation that former Duke star could be next in line for the role.
NBA analyst Austin Rivers had a solid 11-year career himself and is the son of one the great modern day NBA coaches, Doc Rivers. Rivers recently provided his views on the idea of Redick taking the helm in Los Angeles.
“I would like to see him as a head coach for like the Wizards, someone young, he"s young. You"ve seen a lot of young teams pair that with a young capable head coach. Think JJ is such a talent that you don"t wanna put him in a situation where he’s judged in a year or two span," said Rivers on SiriusXM NBA Radio.
"I would like to see [JJ Redick] as a head coach for like the [Washington Wizards]"@AustinRivers25 tells @TermineRadio & @JumpShot8 why he thinks LA isn’t the right spot right now for Redick. pic.twitter.com/H5SFDfwvKA
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) May 15, 2024
Rivers" logic is sound and hard to argue with. He called the Lakers job a “hot seat" and would prefer to see Redick"s first head coaching job be with an organization that provides him time to develop a team.
LeBron James is 39 years old and has maybe 2 or 3 seasons left in his career. If he does return with the Lakers, the goal will be to win, and win right away. That may not be a position Redick wants to put himself in if he hopes to establish himself as a top-tier NBA coach down the line.
