Los Angeles Lakers chose the right coach in JJ Redick, Pat Riley says
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Hall of Fame coach Pat Riley endorsed the Los Angeles Lakers’ decision to hire JJ Redick, calling the former NBA guard the “right person” to guide the franchise.
Riley spoke Saturday outside Crypto.com Arena, where the Lakers unveiled a statue in his honor before their game against the Boston Celtics. Now president of the Miami Heat, the five-time championship coach praised Redick’s competitiveness and predicted success with the current roster.
“I love JJ. I really do,” Riley said. “I competed against him, my teams competed against him on various teams that he played with. He’s a fiery guy, could shoot the hell out of the ball, he was tough as nails. Sometimes I look back and I remember myself at that time and I look at JJ and I think they picked the right person.”
Riley added that Redick inherits “a hell of a team” featuring Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and LeBron James. He also expressed confidence that vice president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka and the club’s new ownership group will continue building around those stars.
The Lakers hired Redick last summer in hopes he can replicate the franchise’s coaching lineage that includes Riley and Phil Jackson. Like Riley, Redick transitioned directly from a lengthy playing career to the bench, bringing a reputation for intensity and straight talk with high-profile players.
Redick, 42, has often cited Riley’s Showtime-era teams led by Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy as coaching inspirations. Earlier this season the rookie head coach called Riley “the north star for all coaches wanting great success in one place.”
Riley’s public vote of confidence adds another layer of credibility to Redick’s tenure as Los Angeles continues its pursuit of the franchise’s 18th NBA championship.
Source: Lakers Nation
