‘A BASKETBALL GENIUS’ 😤 Update on JJ Redick’s Lakers staff + Cavs hire Kenny Atkinson | SportsCenter

‘A BASKETBALL GENIUS’ 😤 Update on JJ Redick’s Lakers staff + Cavs hire Kenny Atkinson | SportsCenter

lights camera action in Los Angeles today Lakers introducing JJ reck as their new head coach here in just a little bit it’s the first coaching job for the former lottery pick spent 15 years in the NBA now reick who turns 40 today happy birthday JJ tasked with improving a Lakers team that has been eliminated in the playoffs by the nuggets in back-to-back season someone who has watched that and witnessed it himself is Dave MC medman who joining us now here on Sports Center and Dave what has been the reaction from players and others inside the organization following this hire now that we’ve had some time to let it sink in well I can start with one player Austin Reeves who like LeBron James had some podcast experience with JJ reck he was a guest on The Old Man and the three his podcast and he was having a camp down in down south this past week and and he called JJ reic a basketball genius and he said that JJ’s already reached out to him to try to establish more of a rapport heading uh to try to hit the ground running uh CU clearly Austin Reeves is one of the most important players on that roster I spoke to someone else within the organization and obviously JJ’s coming into this job with no experience but the person in the organization told me you know the thing that he loved about his initial conversation with JJ that he’s not also coming in set in his ways he doesn’t necessarily have bad habits picked up from other organizations and so he feels like JJ will be a willing collaborator when it comes to sharing information and really getting the best out of this organization from the coaching level and taking all the resources available to him from the other outlets in the Lakers okay uh usually when you have a rookie head coach Dave you know this in any sport they go to look to find veteran coaches to add to their staff we’ve heard now multiple former head coaches might be added to his staff in JJ Rex what more can you tell us about how his staff is coming along thus far yeah building out these assistants will be almost as important as selecting JJ as a 29th coach in Lakers history and one name that I’ve heard that the Lakers have some interest in in potentially bringing in is Scott Brooks obviously he led the OKC Thunder to a finals appearance back in the day he was also a head coach with the Washington Wizards and was coming off a stint with the Portland Trailblazers on Chanty Bill staff he’s someone who certainly be able to provide kind of the game maintenance uh aspect to JJ JJ has the Ex’s nose he has the rapport with one of the most important players if not the most important player in LeBron James but Scott Brooks can say things like you know when we traveled uh to this city we like to stay in this hotel cuz it’s close to this gym where we get a shoot around in those type of kind of day-to-day organization things will be very valuable in making JJ feel as comfortable as possible so he can go with his instincts when it comes to ex know that makes sense Scott Brooks worked for six NBA teams while he’s been in the association so of course he has some experience dealing with the day to-day so of course he would be some assistance we’ll be following Dave mcam in for all the updates on LA’s coaching staff thank you Dave and so CJ I want to get your perspective on this situation from a player’s perspective if you will we know the relationship that JJ has with LeBron James how does that affect the locker room I think it affects it in a positive way you look at their history obviously having the podcast being able to kind of do some of those mock interviews behind the scenes in front of the public eyy understanding LeBron’s history arguably one of the greatest players of all time the team’s going to follow his League they’re going to follow Anthony Davis league and the fact that they have a rapport will be beneficial to this organization and I think they’ll get Buy in from all the players you’ve seen Austin Reed talk about how smart and Brilliant JJ is from a basketball perspective obviously he’s never coached but he understands the importance of preparation being ready and holding your players accountable and I think that’s something that he’s going to look forward to doing and something that’s going to be particularly challenging uh in the beginning of his tenure with the league okay well we will see how that all turns out let’s speaking of new head coaches move to another one because the Cavaliers are hiring Kenny ainson to be their new head coach sources told our Adrien W Janowski of course an assistant in Golden State for the past three years Atkinson was head coach of the Nets from 2016 to 2020 overseeing the team’s rebuild and eventual signings of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving now that the Cavs have their new head coach TJ their next step will be trying to reach an extension with All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell and so the question is should spider actually stay in Cleveland or explore maybe what his future could look like with other teams in the league I think as a player you always do what’s best for your family look at the situation you look at comfort you obviously look at the finances you look at with the roster um how is the team going to continue to get better how they going to utilize you I’m sure Don had a say or was involved in the process of of hiring Kenny ainson and I’m sure that he’s going to kind of figure out what he feels his best but based on how he was utilized last year and in the year prior Don had a lot of success he averaged about 28 points per game six assists five rebounds he was great in the playoffs uh he scores at will and they have a really good team they just faced some injuries last year uh that kind of affected them in the playoffs but I think this is a guy who’s a perennial Allstar um he’s he’s good in any market and I think that he’s going to explore his options but ultimately do what he feels is best for himself and his family yeah and when you hire a guy like Kenny ainson obviously he’s good with Player Development but also he’s good for these veteran guys too and can hope hopefully everyone gel and maybe fix the things that are in his control not necessarily the injuries but the other things CJ McCullum thank you so much for the time we appreciate it try what I [Music] [Applause] I’m [Applause]

Dave McMenamin and CJ McCollum join SportsCenter to speak on JJ Redick becoming a first year head coach for the Los Angeles Lakers ahead of his introductory press conference and what’s next for the Cleveland Cavaliers with Kenny Atkinson.

0:00 Dave McMenamin on JJ Redick’s staff
3:00 CJ McCollum on JJ Redick-LeBron rapport
4:09 Cavaliers hire Kenny Atkinson

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