JJ Redick had his introductory press convention because the Lakers new head coach and he was candid to say the least.
It didn’t take him lengthy to deal with the elephant within the room.
“I’ve by no means coached within the NBA earlier than,” Redick mentioned. “I don’t know in the event you guys have heard that.”
The previous ESPN analyst defined how turning into a coach within the NBA has been on his radar for some time.
“It was actually after I interviewed for the Toronto job final 12 months that I knew that I wished to be a head coach within the NBA,” Redick mentioned. “And so the final 12 months, I spent loads of time speaking to coaches, speaking with GMs, choosing their brains. … I simply felt like that is what I’m purported to be doing.”
One other huge query everybody had for Redick was whether or not he would persevering with his podcast, Thoughts the Sport, with LeBron James.
“In the interim, and hopefully it’s a really, very very long time, I’m excommunicated from the content material house,” Redick mentioned. “So there can be no podcast. … I’m performed with podcasting for now.”
LeBron stored his distance from Redick throughout the interview course of, he shared.
“He didn’t present any recommendation,” Redick mentioned. “LeBron and I didn’t discuss concerning the Lakers job till Thursday afternoon about half-hour after I used to be provided the job. And that was very intentional on each our elements.”
His finest response of the press convention got here when he was requested if he needs to dispel any misconceptions about him.
“It’s a sound query. And I’ve actually heard all the things,” Redick mentioned.
“It’s been a very attention-grabbing six weeks or so, simply when it comes to being part of the engagement farming trade, it’s been actually attention-grabbing. Nonetheless, I don’t actually have a terrific reply to your query as a result of I actually don’t give a f***.
“I need to coach the Lakers. I need to coach the staff. I don’t need to dispel something. I need to develop into a terrific coach within the NBA, and I need to win championships. And I would like my gamers to maximise their careers. That’s all I f***ing care about.”
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