Fans Shocked by LeBron James’ Involvement in Lakers’ Coaching Search

When you’re a legendary player who carries as much weight and cache as LeBron James, your fingerprints are typically on every aspect of an organization, from the play on the floor to the free agency moves, to the NBA draft decisions.

Over the years, we’ve seen “King James” throw his weight around quite a bit as he’s lobbied for players to get signed with his team and influenced coaches to be hired and fired.

James is in a position to aid in that process once again this offseason with the Los Angeles Lakers looking for a new head coach after Darvin Ham was let go following LA’s first-round playoff exit.

However, it sounds like LeBron won’t be part of that process.

“I’m told LeBron James is not involved in the Lakers head coaching search,” said The Athletic’s Shams Charania. “James has made it clear that this is the organization’s decision, he’s had no conversations with the Lakers about JJ Redick.”

The last name that Charania mentioned may turn some heads, as buzz surrounding former NBA player JJ Reddick’s name for the Lakers’ job has started to pick up. Reddick played for 15 seasons in the NBA, spending time with the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Clippers, and Philadelphia 76ers, most notably.

The connection between LeBron and Reddick makes sense, as the two recently started a new podcast together called “Mind the Game.”

Whether or not that means that Reddick — a person with no professional coaching experience — should be the favorite to be named the next head coach in Los Angeles is up for debate. But whether it’s Reddick or not, it appears that James won’t have a say in the matter, whether you believe that or not.