Denver Nuggets center DeAndre Jordan shared his thoughts on his former Los Angeles Clippers teammate JJ Redick becoming the new Lakers head coach during an appearance on Podcast P with Paul George Presented by Wave Sports + Entertainment.
Jordan acknowledged the challenges of stepping into a head coaching role, stating, “I think in my opinion, no head coach is ready to be a head coach when it’s that time. You get baptized by fire and just go with the flow.”
He expressed confidence in Redick’s abilities, highlighting his intelligence and communication skills, saying, “I do believe JJ is a smart guy, he knows the game, he’s knowledgeable and knows how to communicate with different players with different backgrounds and skill sets.”
Jordan noted the high expectations associated with the Lakers’ coaching position, commenting, “The Lakers’ job is a tough job in my opinion. They’re expected to win and hold everyone to a higher standard so they’re not gonna treat him like a first-year, first coaching experience head coach.”
Reflecting on Redick’s career, Jordan added, “JJ went to Duke, had a lot of pressure his entire career, and defied a lot of odds. I think he’s up for the challenge.”
Despite his support for Redick, Jordan humorously remarked on the competitive nature of the NBA, saying, “I just hope whenever they play the Nuggets he doesn’t succeed. I’m rooting for JJ. I hope he does well.”
George also commented on the pressures of coaching the Lakers, referencing Darvin Ham’s experience, “That’s pressure. You saw first time with Darvin Ham coaching and how things quickly went left and the Lakers fans jumped on him quick!”
