JJ Redick set to interview for Charlotte Hornets head coaching vacancy

JJ Redick has become one of the most respected voices in basketball, making a seamless transition from a 15-year playing career to a successful sports media career. The ESPN analyst, who has expressed an interest in coaching, is set to interview for the Charlotte Hornets‘ vacant position, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

The Charlotte Hornets are interviewing JJ Redick for their head coaching job, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. The 15-year NBA veteran and former Duke star has shown an interest in making a coaching jump in recent years.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 22, 2024

Redick would join a shortlist of former NBA players who have made the transition to coaching without previous experience. He has remained in the public eye since retiring following the 2020-21 season. The 2006 national college Player of the Year 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 previously interviewed for a head coaching job

The Charlotte Hornets are not the first team to interview JJ Redick for a head coaching position. The Toronto Raptors interviewed the 15-year NBA veteran for their vacant position last offseason before eventually hiring Darko Rajakovic. Since his retirement in 2021, several franchises have approached Redick to join their staff as an assistant coach.

He appears likely, however, to opt to remain in his successful broadcasting role until he is offered a head coaching position. While Redick has no previous coaching experience, he would not be the first player to become a head coach without experience.

In fact, since the league’s last player-coach – Dave Cowens with the 1978-79 Boston Celtics – 16 former have played have made the jump directly to head coach. That list includes Paul Silas, Dick Van Arsdale, Dan Issel, Quinn Buckner, Magic Johnson, M.L. Carr, Larry Bird, Doc Rivers, Isaiah Thomas, Kevin McHale, Vinny Del Negro, Mark Jackson, Jason Kidd, Steve Kerr, Derek Fisher, and Steve Nash.

While their levels of success have varied, Redick would face a tough task in attempting to lead the rebuilding Hornets. Charlotte does, however, have young, solid building blocks in LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Mark Williams.

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