While training with Team USA, LeBron James discussed his excitement with the coaching staff JJ Redick and the Lakers are building.
Typically, July is a month of rest and time away from the game for LeBron James. This summer isn’t your typical offseason, however, as James signed a two-year $101.355 million deal to return to the Lakers.
His son was also drafted to the franchise and now, LeBron is back in the gym and getting ready for Team USA’s games.
Any opportunity to talk with LeBron during the NBA offseason will provide a wide spectrum of questions. After Team USA practice, he discussed the Lakers' recent coaching hires with the media.
“We’re excited about JJ, we’re excited to work with JJ and also coach [Scott] Brooks and coach [Nate] McMillan as well — those are a great two pieces to add to our coaching staff. I’m super excited to work with JJ and looking forward to the fall.”
The Lakers have made it clear that LeBron was “not involved” in the Lakers head coach search. However, you do want your best players to be excited about the coaches they’ll be working with and it sounds like LeBron is happy with the staff.
He may not have discussed the coaching hires during the process, but you don’t have to be a genius to figure out that he’d probably like to work with his podcasting host, JJ Redick.
The Lakers lead assistants, Scott Brook and Nate McMillan both fit the Lakers' criteria for having head coaching experience on the bench.
While LeBron has rarely discussed those coaches before, they are both respected and have decades of NBA experience, so calling them “two great pieces” seems to be the consensus around the league.
After these quotes came out the Lakers kept working on building out their staff.
It was reported that the franchise is hiring Greg St. Jean as an assistant coach. He adds some more assistant experience and was part of the 2020 title team. So, while he’s not in as big a role as the lead assistants, it’s a good hire that further bolsters the strength of the coaching staff.
We’re likely to see more hiring for the staff as Redick mentioned plans to hire Director of Player Development.
Hopefully LeBron continues to like these additions and the Lakers can have one of the strongest coaching staffs in the NBA.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88.
