The Los Angeles Lakers enjoyed a very promising first year of coaching from J.J. Redick.
After Dan Hurley pulled away as the team’s top candidate, it was JJ Redick who ultimately secured the head coaching gig of the LA Lakers this past offseason.
Redick becoming the Lakers’ newest coach raised eyebrows considering the fact that he no prior coaching experience.
Redick silenced his critics and established a reputable debut season calling the shots for the Lakers, leading the franchise to 50 wins and a third seed placing in the competitive Western Conference.
Even with the young head coach finding rotational hardships and making bold and questionable decisions during the NBA Playoffs, the purple and gold franchise remains devoted to building around him.
As they moved on from Darvin Ham after two seasons of highs and lows, the Lakers held lofty hopes that Redick will finally be the coaching voice that they have been looking for.
Los Angeles viewed him as someone who could be their Pat Riley in this era, the driving force behind the ‘Showtime Lakers’ dynastic success during the 1980s.
Mychal Thompson was a key part of those golden years by the Lakers under Riley’s leadership, and he sees similarities between the two.
“They do remind me of each other,” Thompson told former teammate Michael Cooper on CLNS.
“They are very arrogant in their knowledge of the game, they are demanding, they treat you like men, as long as you are accountable, they are very intense, the way they approach the game. [Redick] does remind me of a young Pat Riley.
“Can he achieve Pat Riley’s success? I hope he does. I’ve said on the air before his style reminds me of Riles a little bit.”
He added there are other similarities too, commenting: “Pat Riley was one of the handsomest coaches ever, and now JJ Redick steps into his shoes. He’s like a young Riles no question about it.”
Thompson has been a huge fan of Redick’s coaching expertise and potential. Previously, he also notably argued that the 40-year-old can be the LA version of Gregg Popovich within the Lakers.
But both Riley and Popovich are two of the winningest coaches in basketball, and time is the ultimate truth teller if Redick can match their legacy.
Redick hammered his desire to be the long-term coach of the franchise in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire incident. With how he leads and analyzes the game, he holds a solid shot to be the Lakers’ established presence on the sidelines.
With having Luka Doncic and LeBron James at his side, he has an opportunity to succeed short-term and long-term.
