Kenny Smith, a two-time NBA champion and prominent TV personality, shared his thoughts on the Los Angeles Lakers’ decision to appoint JJ Redick as their new head coach.
During an interview on Scoop B Radio with Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, Smith described the hiring as “interesting,” acknowledging Redick’s extensive NBA career spanning 12 years.
“I think it was ‘interesting’. However, I don’t think it was out of the question,” Smith commented. “You think about it — basketball is the only place where… I mean, how many years did JJ Redick play? 12 years or something like that? He could play 12 years and they could still say that doesn’t count as ‘experience’. He’s been in multiple practices. He’s been in multiple places. He understands the dynamics of the game.”
Smith challenged the notion that Redick lacks coaching experience due to his playing background, drawing parallels to corporate roles.
“Can you lead? That’s the difference between only being able to coach,” Smith remarked. “So no, I’m not one of those that say that he doesn’t have the experience because he’s played in the NBA for 12 years.
“If I worked at IBM for 12 years and I quit, they’re going to make me a Senior Advisor for every company in the world! So, he has the knowledge but does he have the leadership qualities to lead a guy like LeBron James and AD. That’s going to be his biggest challenge.”
