The Los Angeles Lakers have a good chance of winning the championship in the future! Well, that’s what former NBA star Dwight Howard has claimed. After much chatter over the past month, the Purple and Gold have revealed the name of their 29th head coach. Replacing Darvin Ham, JJ Redick will now take the reins of the team. Seemingly positive about the change Redick will bring to the franchise, Howard, who won the championship with the Lakers in 2020, shared his opinion on the matter.

DH12 in his podcast alluded that despite the lack of coaching experience, Redick will be successful with the Lakers. “This is the NBA script, man. This is the story that people will look at for years and be like, ‘Man, it all started with this young rookie, well he’s not young, but this rookie coach who’s had experience in all levels,” Howard said on Above The Rim With DH12. He cited how Redick’s dominance with the Duke Blue Devils will be instrumental in leading the team. 

He further added, “He’s played at Duke, so he has his pedigree of great coaching by one of the greatest college coaches ever. So now this is going to be good, for, I think this will be great for the Lakers and a fresh start.” 

The Lakers’ new coach had an outstanding college career. Under the guidance of Mike Krzyzewski, JJ Redick led the Blue Devils to three ACC championships. Along the way, he earned 2 ACC Player of the Year awards and 2 ACC Tournament MVPs in 2005 and 2006. He was the biggest name in college basketball at the time and was arguably the most hated player in the country. There were numerous reasons for this hatred from fans, which even almost led to Redick quitting. However, he continued playing and became a great role player in the NBA.

All these experiences will only help him adjust to this new role. “His rigorous analysis will immediately unlock new opportunities for our roster while setting a foundation for player development over the long term,” Rob Pelinka, Los Angeles Lakers Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager said about Redick.

Playing 15 seasons in the league, Redick played for 14 teams that made playoff appearances. His rich knowledge of the game and expertise is what the Lakers need right now. Moreover, another factor is LeBron James’ son, Bronny James. Here is what Redick said that might make the Lakers the fitting place for Bronny.

JJ Redick and the Lakers have what Bronny James needs!

In an insightful conversation with former NBA player Gilbert Arenas on his podcast, LeBron James‘ agent Rich Paul discussed that players need the right mentor who can coach and enhance their skills. Redick in his introductory speech as the Lakers coach emphasized his focus on the G-League players. The 2006 National College Player of the Year stated how two-way players “can guard to be a championship-level team.”

Judging from Bronny’s decision to attend the training sessions for only the Phoenix Suns and Lakers, it shows where Bronny’s interest lies. While Redick is the perfect mentor who can guide and train him, the option for two-way players definitely offers a chance for Bronny.

Ham was responsible for the Lakers gaining two playoff berths. However, after consecutive defeats against the Denver Nuggets, he was fired. While there were numerous names such as UConn head coach Dan Hurley thrown into the conversation, Redick has taken over the reigns. Even though he has some interesting ideas to elevate the Lakers game, the question is whether he will be able to meet the hype.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.