Ranking 6 Lakers Head Coach Candidates Interviewing For the Job
By Cem Yolbulan
5. Kenny Atkinson
Another high-level assistant coach who didn't cover himself in glory during his lone head coaching position is Kenny Atkinson.
Atkinson made a name for himself working under Mike Budenholzer in Atlanta. He eventually got the Brooklyn Nets head coaching job in 2016. He spent 3.5 seasons there before resigning before the 2020 bubble. He made one playoff appearance during his tenure.
One of the reasons for Atkinson not lasting in Brooklyn was the fact that Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving wanted to install a head coach to their liking. It was reported at the time that they weren't particularly fond of Kenny Atkinson's rigid approach.
This might be a problem for the superstar duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Atkinson has worked for the Clippers and the Warriors since then, working with stars like Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Steph Curry. He is generally a well-respected figure in terms of X's and O's but whether that is enough to land him the Lakers job remains to be seen.
4. JJ Redick
This one is the riskiest move as Redick has no prior coaching experience.
It has been rumored that LeBron James wants his podcast partner and close friend JJ Redick to be the next head coach of the Lakers. All the reporting is suggesting that the front office will at least consider it and interview the former Duke star.
Redick has impressed basketball fans with his tactical knowledge and ability to read the game during his time in the media. His podcast with LeBron is genuinely fascinating.
However, being a head coach is an entirely different beast. Not even having any assistant coaching experience is a big minus. Being able to manage egos and personalities, and running a locker room require more than just basketball knowledge.
There is certainly an upside to this hiring. First-time head coaches can bring out something out of a team that was never seen before. We have seen this with Steve Kerr and Erik Spoelstra before. But, there are as many failed examples as successful ones, so it will be interesting to see where this goes.