Lakers’ Jeanie Buss explains decision to hire JJ Redick: ‘We wanted to think in a different way’

The biggest move the Los Angeles Lakers made this summer was to overhaul their coaching staff. Darvin Ham was let go and JJ Redick was brought in as the new head coach, along with veteran assistants Scottie Brooks, Nate McMillan, and Lindsay Harding.

Redick had a long and impressive career and was a rising star in the media world, but he had no prior coaching experience. So why did the Lakers, with all their expectations, hand him the reins for the final few years of the LeBron James era?

Lakers owner Jeanie Buss shared some details about the decision while appearing on local Los Angeles radio show “Petros & Money” on Thursday.

“We wanted to think differently,” Buss said. “Really, he has a vision. I’m not comfortable talking about basketball, but we were looking for a candidate who would bring something different and really invest in the development of young players. JJ is the right guy for us. Again, I just want the work to really speak for itself, so I don’t want to hype it up and say it’s going to be a home run. We have to give him time to establish what he wants to establish.”

“I’m very impressed with his staff. Right now, it’s not mandatory for players to come and practice, but players are coming and practicing. There’s a lot of experience on the coaching staff with Nate McMillan and Scottie Brooks, which will help him make the adjustment to being a head coach. Obviously with a 12-year career in the league, he has a lot of experience. He knows what this league is about and I think he’ll be a great leader.”

Buss’ comments are notable not just for this season, but for the future as well.

The Lakers were, in some ways, stuck in the Stone Age under Darvin Ham. They ranked fourth in post-up possessions per game last season (7.3), tied for 28th in 3-point attempts (31.4), ranked 29th in offensive rebounding rate (24.4) and 15th in offensive rating (115.4). Redick has already guaranteed that will change.

“I’m going to use math,” Redick said during his introductory press conference earlier this summer. He wants his team to shoot more 3s, crash the offensive glass and run more organized sets. Overall, his analytically driven philosophy is a far cry from the one the Lakers have adopted in recent years.

Looking ahead, player development is another important thing for Redick. His commitment to this aspect of the game is why the Lakers believe he can be their leader now and after LeBron James retires.

“The pursuit of greatness can’t be miserable,” Redick said. “Every day when somebody walks into this building, they should enjoy it. I think part of being a coach, right, is, like, ‘Can I maximize each player?’ That helps maximize the group. And does everybody in the building, not just the players and staff, everybody in the building enjoy coming to work every day? It’s up to me to create that culture.”

Whether or not Reddick will be a successful coach remains to be seen, but it’s clear he and the organization have a vision.