Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss and team president Rob Pelinka are scheduled to interview with JJ Redick in an “all-day session” in Los Angeles this weekend, as reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Redick has had previous discussions with the Lakers about their vacant head-coaching position, including a 90-minute talk with Pelinka at the draft combine in May and recent phone conversations. A strong performance during the interview could place Redick at the forefront of the Lakers’ coaching search, although he is not the only candidate being considered.
In addition to Redick, New Orleans Pelicans assistant coach James Borrego is also in the running for the head-coaching position with the Lakers. Borrego has been mentioned as one of the leading candidates by The Athletic and Yahoo Sports this week. Borrego recently interviewed with the Cleveland Cavaliers and is reportedly gaining traction for that role as well.
Los Angeles recently made a failed attempt to hire Dan Hurley from UConn, who ultimately rejected their offer. Redick has been understanding of how the pursuit of Hurley impacted the coaching search process. Retired as a player in 2021, Redick has since launched a podcast with Lakers star LeBron James and has been working as a commentator for ESPN/ABC during the NBA Finals.
The Lakers are aiming to secure a new head coach before the NBA Draft, which is scheduled for June 26. The upcoming draft has added urgency to the coaching search, with time running out for the team to make a decision before the event.
