JJ Redick is the Lakers' new lead man.
After a thorough process, Redick has been hired as LA's head coach, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Redick moves to the sideline after a post-NBA career in media that included TV analysis and hosting multiple podcasts, including the "Mind The Game" podcast alongside LeBron James.
Three months after the first episode of "Mind The Game" was published, Redick and James will go from co-hosts to coworkers, as Redick has been tasked with leading the team that James has spent the last six seasons with.
Now that Redick has accepted the Lakers job, will he continue to podcast with James?
LAKERS HIRE JJ REDICK
- Contract details
- Is Redick the right person for LA?
- Inside Redick's 'Pat Riley-like' potential
- How Redick will change Lakers
- Redick joins Coach K's growing coaching tree
Will JJ Redick and LeBron James still podcast?
It is unclear whether or not Redick and James will continue to podcast together. In addition to the tricky dynamic of a coach and player regularly podcasting together, there are no known active NBA head coaches who double as a podcast host.
Doug Gottlieb, who was recently hired as head men's basketball coach at Wisconsin Green-Bay, will continue his role as a radio show host. That is one of the closest known examples to Redick.
The last episode of "Mind The Game" — an NBA Finals preview — was published on Wednesday, June 5. On June 11, the podcast posted on its social media channels that it would not be publishing a new episode.
Based on reporting on Redick's hire, he was going through his interview process while also calling the NBA Finals on ABC, likely leaving very little time to record a podcast with James.
A programming update for this week. 👇 pic.twitter.com/GTjLO5jIjT
— Mind the Game (@mindthegamepod) June 11, 2024
James and Redick's approach to the podcast during the interview process could provide a glimpse of what is to come as Redick's meticulous approach to strategy and preparation could prevent him from fully focusing on his podcasting endeavors, including his podcast with James.
MORE: Did JJ Redick and LeBron's podcast play a role in Lakers head coach hiring?
Retired 21-year NBA veteran Udonis Haslem, who spent four years as James' teammate with the Heat, expressed concern about a potential Redick hire in Los Angeles, saying players may side-eye Redick's coaching because of his relationship with James.
If nothing else, the duo could elect to put a pause on the podcast to fully focus on the upcoming season, should James elect to remain with the Lakers. The 39-year-old has the option to become a free agent in 2024.
