As the Los Angeles Lakers embark on their search for a new head coach, LeBron James has made it clear that he is not involved in the process. The four-time NBA champion has distanced himself from the decision-making, emphasizing that it is the organization’s responsibility to find a replacement for former head coach Darvin Ham, who was let go after a first-round playoff exit against the Nuggets.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, James has been vocal about his lack of involvement. “James has made it clear that this is the organization’s decision,” Charania stated on FanDuel’s “Run It Back.” Despite speculation, James has not engaged in any discussions with the Lakers regarding potential candidates, including his podcast partner, JJ Redick.

Rich Paul, James’ agent, reinforced this point, telling Charania, “They do a podcast together, that does not mean that he wants JJ Redick as his head coach.” Paul further highlighted that if James were making the coaching decisions, Ty Lue would have been the head coach in 2019, and Kyrie Irving would be his point guard.

The Lakers are considering several candidates for the head coaching role. Names that have emerged include Mike Budenholzer, Charles Lee, and Kenny Atkinson. Ty Lue, who has a significant history with James, remains under contract with the Clippers and is reportedly in talks for an extension that could keep him with the team beyond the 2025-26 season. Lue and James share a notable bond, having won a championship together with the Cavaliers in 2016.

Speculation about JJ Redick potentially becoming the Lakers’ head coach arose due to his close friendship with James and their successful basketball podcast, “Mind The Game.” Despite these rumors, James has had no conversations with Redick about the coaching position. Redick, who joined ESPN as an analyst after a 15-season NBA career, was linked to the Lakers following their playoff loss to the Nuggets.

The connection intensified when ESPN’s Dave McMenamin mentioned on “The Dan Patrick Show” that Redick was a viable candidate if the Lakers opened their coaching search. This speculation was further fueled by the Lakers parting ways with Ham shortly after.

LeBron James, who recently became the league’s all-time leading scorer, has yet to address these rumors directly. His stance remains that the decision regarding the Lakers’ next head coach lies solely with the organization. As the Lakers continue their search, the focus will be on selecting a leader who can guide the team to future success, independent of James’ influence.