JJ Redick has quickly become one of the most respected voices in the basketball world. Since his retirement from the NBA after the 2020-21 season, the 15-year veteran successfully made the transition to sports media. He could be in line for another career change, as Shams Charania reported that he is a serious candidate to fill the Charlotte Hornets‘ head coaching vacancy.
Speaking on the Run It Back podcast, the NBA insider stated:
JJ Redick has interviewed for the Charlotte Hornets coaching job, I’m told. He could have another interview soon, as well. He’s a serious candidate… JJ Redick has a strong desire, potentially, to move into coaching. He’s been public about that. Privately, I’m hearing that, as well. If it’s not Charlotte, [there] could be more interviews for JJ Redick in his future, in this potential cycle, but for now, we’ll see where he progresses in Charlotte.
Check out Shams Charania’s full comments on JJ Redick below:
Charania mentioned Boston Celtics assistant coach Charles Lee and Stockton Kings head coach Lindsey Harding as other candidates that have interviewed for the position. Redick has remained in the public eye since retiring from the NBA following the 2020-21 season. He is apart of ESPN’s lead broadcast team, alongside Mike Breen and Doris Burke. He also hosts two podcasts – The Old Man and the Three and Mind the Game, the latter which he co-hosts with LeBron James.
JJ Redick has been a coaching candidate previously
JJ Redick interviewed for the Toronto Raptors head coaching vacancy last offseason. The team opted to go in a different direction, opting to hire Darko Rajakovic instead. The 2006 National College Player of the Year has also been approached by several franchises hoping to bring him on as an assistant coach.
Redick’s successful sports media career, however, has allowed him to be selective about the role he pursues. He appears in position to wait until he is offered a head coaching job. The ESPN analyst would join a short list of former players who have became NBA head coaches without any previous coaching experience. Since the league’s last player-coach in 1978-79, 16 former players have made the jump to head coach. Redick would face a tough task.
The Hornets have not reached the postseason since 2015-16 and have not advanced past the first round since 2001-02. They have never advanced past the second round of the postseason.
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