The Los Angeles Lakers have not made up their mind yet on their next head coach. As it turns out, however, LeBron James already has — at least according to ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith and his sources.
According to Stephen A. the man LeBron wants to be sitting at the helm for LA in 2024-25 is none other than his new podcast partner, JJ Redick.
Los Angeles Lakers News: LeBron James Wants JJ Redick (and Bronny)
In a recent episode of the Stephen A. Smith show, the renowned sports broadcaster dropped a bombshell about LeBron pretty much demanding that the Lakers hire Redick. On top of that, Smith claims that his sources have told him that James feels pretty strongly about LA picking up his son, Bronny, in the upcoming 2024 NBA Draft:
“Let me tell you what else I’ve been hearing. LeBron James is trying to get the Los Angeles Lakers to draft Bronny James with the second-round pick. He’d also like for JJ Redick to be his next head coach. I’m just telling you what I’ve heard,” Smith said (h/t Vishwesha Kumar of Fadeaway World.
“Now, that doesn’t mean the Lakers want JJ Redick, it doesn’t mean they don’t… He’s one of many, they haven’t made a finite decision about anybody yet, but LeBron has. That’s the guy he wants, which would kind of explain why they’re doing a basketball podcast together, I’m just guessing on that point, but it makes sense.”
Smith recently floated his conspiracy theory about Bronny’s draft stock conveniently dropping to right around where the Lakers are drafting in the second round. Stephen A. also believes that James’ new podcast with Redick, which started right around when Darvin Ham found himself on the Lakers’ hot seat, is another one of LeBron’s behind-the-scenes schemes.
Taking all this into account, don’t be surprised if the Lakers announce Redick as their new head coach in the coming days.
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