LeBron James Was Involved in Key Lakers Hiring That Eased JJ Redick’s Coaching Debut

Currently, with the Lakers, it feels like they’ve handed the keys to Luka Dončić. From helping recruit veterans like Marcus Smart to being looped in on major decisions, the 5x All-Star has quickly become the central figure in the team’s new era. But not too long ago, that kind of responsibility largely rested on the shoulders of LeBron James. The 4x NBA champion was an influential voice, especially during that one coaching hire. 

When the Lakers appointed JJ Redick as their 29th head coach in June 2024, eyebrows were raised. Would Redick, a former player with zero coaching experience, now command the locker room? And was LeBron involved in a decision of that sort? The front office said no. GM Rob Pelinka insisted that LeBron was merely “very supportive of us in our process.” But the Lakers weren’t going to let JJ Redick lead the Lakers alone; to counter the inexperience, two veteran coaches were hired to assist him. That’s how Nate McMillan came, and with him… LeBron’s presence. 

“When the Lakers come calling, you’re going to listen,” McMillan said, narrating his story on the August 6 episode of The Sports Shop with Reese and K-Mac. But the seasoned coach who’s held positions in Seattle, Portland, Indiana, and Atlanta needed one piece to click before he was finally onboarded. “I called JJ back, and I told him, I said, ‘Look, I want to really consider this, but there’s one more phone call that needs to be made. And that was LeBron.” Then, his phone rang. 

“5 minutes later, LeBron calls. He talked about the opportunity to come in and, you know, from afar, he has always respected and wanted an opportunity to work with me. And I’m sitting there saying the same thing, like ‘wow, wow’. Bringing a wealth of experience to the coaching staff, McMillan’s impact was significant, particularly in areas like defense and player development. 

So, despite being a rookie head coach, the season turned out to be all positive for Redick. The Lakers finished with a 50–32 record and secured the third seed in the Western Conference. Moreover, it marked just the second time in the last 14 years that the team had reached the 50-win milestone. But, credit was equally due to the experienced backroom staff he had deliberately built around him. Redick had made it clear from the start:

“The biggest thing for me was I wanted to make sure I had a bunch of sickos on my staff, and I think I’ve accomplished that. They’re grinders.” Redick’s pursuit of the veteran coach was underway even before LeBron James placed his now-publicized call. To bolster his pitch, Redick had already turned to a trusted mentor, Mike Krzyzewski, his former coach at Duke.

“Shortly after that, I get another phone call, and it’s Coach K,” McMillan recalled. “He felt that I was a really good fit and could help JJ.”  Redick showed he was serious about building a solid foundation, and once LeBron lent his voice to the process, it brought added confidence to the direction the Lakers were heading in.