Getty Los Angeles Lakes head coach Darvin Ham (left) and vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka.
A new conspiracy theory floating around NBA circles involves LeBron James, JJ Redick and a podcast.
Former NBA player Rashad McCants suggested that James started a podcast with Redick so he could prepare the retired sharpshooter for life in coaching. With the Lakers expected to fire Darvin Ham following their 2024 playoff exit, McCants said the seeds have been planted for Redick to swoop in and assume the reins.
“JJ and LeBron start a podcast. JJ says he wants to be a coach. LeBron knows [Darvin Ham] and his days are numbered. JJ gets hired by the Lakers,” McCants said on the May 1 episode of the “Gil’s Arena” podcast. “LeBron is still a player; JJ gets to coach LeBron and bring in Bronny. The podcast thrives.”
“[LeBron] is coaching JJ to be the coach!”
The Gil’s Arena crew discusses if JJ Redick should be the Lakers next head coach if Darvin Ham gets fired
McCants said he started believing in the wild theory after watching James and Redick discussing Xs and Os on their “Mind the Game” podcast.
“He’s coaching JJ to be the coach,” McCants said of James.
Rashad McCants suggests the reason LeBron and JJ Redick started a podcast is because Bron is “coaching JJ to be the coach” of the Lakers next season.
(via @GilsArenaShow)
A Good Fit for the Lakers?
Redick — who played 15 seasons in the NBA — has earned praise from his peers and fans since he forayed into broadcasting. Even James has spoken highly of his basketball acumen, stressing that he and Redick study the game in a similar light.
After news broke of the duo starting a podcast, the Lakers star explained why he chose Redick as his co-host.
“When you have someone like JJ who has kind of the same mindset about the game of basketball — very smart, fell in love with the game for all the right reasons. This is something [starting a podcast] that I’ve been thinking about for quite a while. It’s just JJ was perfect timing,” James told Jovan Buha of The Athletic on March 24.
I asked LeBron about what sparked the idea to launch the “Mind The Game” podcast this week and why he partnered with J.J. Redick:
Will Redick emerge as a candidate for the Lakers job? As of May 2, Lakers assistant Phil Handy was the betting favorite to replace Ham.
Phil Handy is the betting favorite to be the next Los Angeles Lakers Coach
Phil Handy +200
Juwan Howard +650
Quin Snyder +650
Jared Dudley +700
Sam Cassell +700
Kenny Atkinson +800
Steve Clifford +900
JJ Redick a Finalist for Hornets Job
While it remains to be seen whether Redick auditions for the Lakers job, the former Duke star is already a finalist for the coaching vacancy in Charlotte.
According to Forbes’ Evan Sidery, Redick and Celtics lead assistant Charles Lee are among the two finalists to succeed incumbent Steve Clifford.
JJ Redick and Celtics lead assistant Charles Lee are viewed as the finalists for the Hornets’ head coach vacancy.
Redick, who has a strong desire to get into coaching, and Lee will have second interviews soon with Charlotte’s front office to decide.
Despite being very active in the media space, Redick has reiterated his desire to become a coach in the NBA.
“I have a desire to coach in the NBA. Life is about timing, life is about the right situation,” Redick told “The Pivot” podcast on April 30. “So, I can’t say a when, and I can’t say a definite it’s going to happen. The ecosystem that I’ve built and worked for over the last three years, I take a lot of, I wouldn’t say pride because I don’t want to say it’s prideful, I take a lot of joy in this, and I love doing it, and it’s important to me.”
Redick averaged 12.8 points through 15 seasons in the NBA. In 2006, he won the prestigious College Player of the Year award for his exploits at Duke.