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Former NBA player turned podcaster a finalist for Hornets coaching job
The Charlotte Hornets have reportedly whittled down their list of head coaching candidates.
Former sharpshooter turned podcast personality JJ Redick is expected to be among the finalists. He will likely receive a second interview.
JJ Redick and Celtics lead assistant Charles Lee are viewed as the finalists for the Hornets’ head coach vacancy.
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) April 28, 2024
Redick, who has a strong desire to get into coaching, and Lee will have second interviews soon with Charlotte’s front office to decide. pic.twitter.com/qcjYrYuMDe
Since retiring from the NBA, Redick has positioned himself as a true student of the game. He is regularly seen on ESPN programming, dissecting false narratives and providing valuable analysis.
His new podcast with LeBron James is structured around the finer details of basketball schematics at the highest level. His "Old Man and the Three" podcast is one of the most popular podcasts among basketball fans.
Redick has made no secret about his desire to become a head coach. He interviewed for the Toronto Raptors head coaching role in 2023. Toronto eventually chose to move forward with Darko Rajakovic.
As reporter Evan Sidery noted, the Hornets will likely provide Boston Celtics assistant coach Charles Lee with a second interview, too. As such, Redick will face significant competition for a chance to lead the Hornets through their rebuild.
Despite their reputation for being a struggling team in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Hornets are undoubtedly an appealing prospect for most want-to-be head coaches. They have LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller as franchise cornerstones as well as multiple high-level young talents and the assets to continue building.
Most importantly, though, the Hornets won't expect immediate success. For a former player with no coaching experience like Redick, the lack of expectations would give him time to learn on the job.
Considering he has spent his retirement behind a microphone rather than on a coaching bench, he may need the additional runway to get himself up to speed.
Nevertheless, it's clear that Redick will continue to explore opportunities to coach an NBA team. If he misses out on the Hornets job, his name will certainly pop up again once another vacancy arises.
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Steelers' Kenneth Gainwell Sends A New Eye-Opening Cryptic Message
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