Not long after his playing career ended, former Philadelphia 76ers guard JJ Redick became a head coach in the NBA. Despite spending his post-retirement days as a television analyst and podcast host, the journeyman sharpshooter was hired by the Los Angeles Lakers to replace Darvin Ham.
In his first year as head coach, Redick finds himself alongside two superstars in LeBron James and Anthony Davis. This comes with its own trials and tribulations on and off the court. As he prepares to begin a new chapter in his career, Reddick has revealed one big goal for himself.
During training camp, Redick was asked about coaching an iconic player like LeBron in what may be his final year in the league. He didn’t enjoy his final days as a player, and he doesn’t want the same to happen to the 20-time All-Star.
“I always talk about joy and gratitude,” Reddick said. “And I’m looking back at the end of my career. My last year was getting injured and getting traded. Obviously, (James) and I are different, but…the final chapter. I couldn’t enjoy it.”
Redick is referring to the 2021 season, in which he appeared in just 44 games and was traded from the New Orleans Pelicans to the Dallas Mavericks. Before returning to the Western Conference, Redick had the most productive period of his career with the Sixers.
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The former lottery pick first joined Philadelphia in the 2018 offseason after signing a huge one-year contract in free agency. His ability to space the floor efficiently made him fit right in alongside Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.
Redick averaged 17 PPG in his first year in Philadelphia and set a career-high 18.1 PPG with the Sixers in 2019. He was the final member of a star-studded lineup that included Embiid, Simmons, Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris. With that core four getting a lot of attention on the floor, he was able to regularly create successful defense from beyond the arc.
Of all his bases in the NBA, the Sixers were where he posted the highest scoring numbers of his career. In the future, he will try to achieve similar success as a head coach.
