JJ Redick

Coach JJ Redick is a prominent figure in professional basketball, recognized as a former NBA player, media personality, and head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. Before his professional career, Redick distinguished himself at Duke University, earning a degree in history with a minor in cultural anthropology. He set Atlantic Coast Conference career records for points and ACC tournament points and became Duke's all-time leading scorer. Redick was named a two-time First-Team All-American and received the Naismith Men's College Player of the Year Award. Duke retired his jersey, acknowledging his significant contributions to the program.

Redick was selected 11th overall by the Orlando Magic in the NBA Draft and played 15 seasons in the NBA with the Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, New Orleans Pelicans, and Dallas Mavericks. He averaged 12.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game and finished his career with the 20th-most three-pointers in NBA history. Redick was an early adopter of athlete-driven media, launching a weekly podcast during his playing career.

Following his retirement, Redick became a basketball analyst for ESPN, appearing as a studio analyst and on "First Take." He joined ESPN's lead broadcast team and served as the lead analyst for the network's telecast of the NBA Finals on ABC. Redick co-founded ThreeFourTwo Productions and hosted "The Old Man and the Three" podcast, which gained significant viewership on YouTube. He also launched the "Mind the Game" podcast with LeBron James, focusing on in-depth basketball discussions.

Redick was named the 29th head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. In his first season, he coached the Lakers to a 50–32 record, the third-best in the Western Conference, and later earned a contract extension. Redick achieved his 100th victory as a head coach and led the Lakers to consecutive 50-win seasons, becoming the first Lakers coach to do so since Phil Jackson. He secured his first playoff series win as a coach by defeating the Houston Rockets in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Redick's career spans achievements as a record-setting college athlete, NBA player, media innovator, and head coach, reflecting a multifaceted impact on the basketball industry.