After an extensive search and the rejection of a candidate offer, the Los Angeles Lakers named former NBA player JJ Redick as the franchise's next head coach in June.
Dan Hurley, who coached the UConn Huskies men's basketball team to a second straight NCAA title in April, turned down an offer from the Lakers in June.
The franchise's selection was quickly met with both praise and skepticism, with many critics pointing to Redick's lack of coaching experience. This week, three-time NBA All-Star Steve Francis became the latest critic to express concerns about the Lakers' decision.
“I love basketball, but it’s not possible that just because he went to Duke and criticizes people on television, like he looks like a great coach,” Francis recently told the “Live from the District” podcast.
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Former NBA player Steve Francis attends a Chicago Bulls-Houston Rockets game on February 3, 2017, at the Toyota Center in Houston. (David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
Francis then mentioned a few assistant coaches he believed the Lakers could have considered during their coaching search.
“But I look at it like all these other guys who worked really hard. You got my boy David Vanterpool here in Washington. You have Sam Cassell. You have so many guys who have championship experience. All these guys that have experience and being scrutinized just because it's the right thing now in this generation, because these guys are doing these podcasts.
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Before taking over as Lakers coach, Redick hosted the podcast “The Old Man and the Three.” He also co-hosted the “Mind the Game” podcast with four-time NBA champion LeBron James.
During his introductory press conference, Redick acknowledged his nonexistent NBA coaching history.
“I’ve never coached in the NBA before. I don’t know if you’ve heard that,” Redick said with a sarcastic smile.
Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick speaks to the media during an introductory press conference at the UCLA Health Training Center. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA Today Sports)
But a reporter followed up Redick's statement by asking if he has listened to the critics and naysayers and if he is trying to dispel any “misconceptions” about being the team's next head coach.
“It’s a valid question and I certainly heard it all,” Redick responded. “It's been a really interesting six weeks, just in terms of being part of the engagement cultivation industry.
“However, I don't really have a good answer to your questions because I really don't give a shit. Like, honestly, I want to coach the Lakers. I want to dispel nothing. I don't want to become a great coach in the NBA and I want to win championships. And I want my players to maximize their careers.
JJ Redick before Game 2 of the 2024 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden on June 9, 2024, in Boston. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Although Redick spent 15 seasons in the NBA, Francis suggested Redick would struggle to get his message across in the Lakers locker room. He also predicted that James would basically ignore coach Redick.
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“What’s going to happen is as if Darvin Ham is the coach. LeBron won’t listen to a word JJ is saying,” Francis added. “Why would you listen to him? I wouldn't listen to him if he was coaching me. I'll just see how much I bake it and think, 'What are you saying? You know what I do, so tell someone else.
“So it’s definitely going to be hard for him to overcome the camaraderie with the circus around him and his son, it’s going to be a big distraction for a new coach, and we’ll see what happens.”
The Lakers still have three preseason games before their regular season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 22.
Fox News' Scott Thompson contributed to this report.
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