JJ Redick's Daunting Task: Coaching LeBron James
JJ Redick has just taken on one of the most daunting jobs in the NBA, and it's official. Though he recently accepted a four-year deal to coach the Lakers, an opportunity swathed in the prestige of purple and gold, his truly challenging task is coaching LeBron James.
On the degree of difficulty scale, that responsibility ranks almost as high as "good luck" can get. LeBron James, even at nearly 40 years old, remains a stunning talent. Paired with Anthony Davis, this combination provides a glimmer of hope for success. However, the pressure to deliver results is immense. This demanding environment is not just a test of basketball knowledge but a challenge to manage expectations and personalities.
The Prestige and Pressure of Coaching LeBron
In many ways, LeBron's profile and basketball intelligence are elements any budding head coach would crave to elevate their careers. Yet, these attributes come bundled with an undeniable expectation to win — immediately. LeBron's exacting standards and frenetic drive can oscillate between affection and something akin to a freeze-out, presenting both an opportunity for greatness and a potential pitfall for any coach who cannot navigate these complex dynamics.
Consider the coaching history that has surrounded LeBron's awe-inspiring career. He has had eight full-time head coaches. Only two — Erik Spoelstra and Ty Lue — were not let go during his tenure. Five coaches were fired, and Luke Walton "mutually parted ways" with the Lakers in 2019 before taking the job with the Kings.
LeBron wanted Spoelstra fired back in 2010 during his first year in Miami. This instance showcased Pat Riley's rare ability to tell LeBron "no," highlighting the troubles that can arise when the glitz and promise of a LeBron James team hit obstacles. With Ty Lue, he stepped into the fold after David Blatt, whom he assisted, was fired despite holding a 30-11 record at the time of his dismissal in 2016. That team later won an NBA Championship.
Rings and Reality Check
It's worth noting that while Lue and Spoelstra both won titles with LeBron, a championship ring does not inoculate one against future dismissals. Three years ago, Frank Vogel coached the Lakers to an NBA Championship. Two seasons later, he was out.
Coaching LeBron James can bring you glory, but it can also be extremely challenging. LeBron's influence in front offices and locker rooms is well-documented, and he is unafraid to wield it. Part of LeBron's complexity includes personality traits that could be seen as flaws if not for the greatness they help produce. Like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, LeBron shines incandescently but can burn you out if you don't navigate his demands properly.
The Lakers' Current Reality
The current state of the Lakers team isn't promising. The LeBron-AD tandem, while potent, has proven insufficient. For two consecutive years, the Lakers have been dominated and sent home during the playoffs by the Denver Nuggets. LeBron approaching 40 complicates matters further, especially in a Western Conference that looks unbelievably deep next season — perhaps even 13 teams deep.
Los Angeles missing the playoffs in Redick's first season is a real possibility. Does his podcast partnership with LeBron James offer him some level of protection from the fallout that can come from coaching an underwhelming team? Does Redick possess the temperament, humility, and media-management skills to weather the inevitable storms before things turn around?
Questions abound: does having been a TV personality for 15 seconds make him well-equipped to navigate the strange and wondrous terrains surrounding LeBron James' teams? Can Redick actually coach at this elite level?
Perhaps the answer to all these questions will be an emphatic "yes." But Redick is about to test these questions under the most challenging of situations: coaching LeBron James. The stakes are incredibly high, and the problems that arise will undoubtedly be laid at his feet.
Redick's tenure as the Lakers' coach will be scrutinized and analyzed in real-time, just as every move LeBron makes is. While there are many hurdles to overcome, the rewards for success are equally monumental.