Lakers’ JJ Redick: My Feelings Weren’t ‘Hurt’ by Dan Hurley Contract Rumors | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

New Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick understands the team had to explore different options when deciding on Darvin Ham’s replacement.

“At no point was my ego bruised or feelings hurt in any way,” Redick told reporters during his introductory press conference on Monday when discussing the Lakers’ pursuit of UConn head coach Dan Hurley.

It seemed at one point like the Lakers were going to hire Hurley, and it even reached a point that they offered a formal contract.

However, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on June 10 that Hurley rejected Los Angeles’ six-year, $70 million offer to remain with the Huskies in pursuit of a third consecutive national title.

The coaching search continued as a result, and it landed on Redick.

Yet general manager Rob Pelinka told reporters Monday that Redick was always part of the team’s “Plan A” of candidates, which presumably also included Hurley. Redick was heavily linked to the Lakers even before there were rumors about Hurley, so it wasn’t a surprising comment from Pelinka.

Los Angeles is certainly taking a chance.

Redick doesn’t have any head coaching experience, although he played for 15 seasons and was a broadcaster and podcaster. He was known for his analytical approach to the game as a broadcaster and will take that X’s and O’s approach to the coaching profession.

He will also look to snap the Lakers’ recent pattern of coaches.

The Purple and Gold have not kept a head coach for more than three seasons since Phil Jackson retired in 2011. That includes Frank Vogel, who won the championship in 2020 just to be fired in 2022.

Ham was there for just two seasons, one of which resulted in a Western Conference Finals appearance.

Redick will face plenty of pressure to change the team’s recent history, especially as a first-year head coach who arrives with some question marks and no experience.