Jeanie Buss and the Lakers Bet on a coach who rose like a phoenix

Every NBA coach faces unique challenges. While Jeanie Buss was aware that JJ Redick would encounter hurdles with the team, she couldn’t have predicted how significant those challenges would be. Moving from Brooklyn to California with his family, Redick left everything behind—careers, schools, friends—to start fresh in Los Angeles.

Just as the Redicks were beginning to settle into their new surroundings, tragedy struck. It was something even Jeanie Buss didn’t see coming. Despite the adversity, the Redicks didn’t falter. Rather than leaving, they stayed the course and remained committed to the Lakers’ mission.

Jeanie Buss was right all along

This experience reinforced to Jeanie Buss that she had made the right choice in hiring JJ Redick as head coach. “He had to move from Brooklyn with his family, his wife, and their two young kids. I’m not sure they were all that thrilled about the move, but he accepted the job,” Buss explained.

Relocating for a better opportunity is common for families, but what set the Redicks apart—and what surprised Jeanie Buss —was their resilience. The family rented a house in Los Angeles and was adapting to life in the city when they lost it in a wildfire.

For Jeanie Buss, this incident was deeply concerning. She worried not just about Redick but also about his wife. The family faced countless personal challenges yet continued their commitment to the Lakers. This showed Buss that Redick’s strength and his support system were the secret ingredients needed to guide the team.

 

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Claiming their place

What impressed Jeanie Buss most was the Redicks’ decision to stay in Los Angeles despite the wildfire. Instead of viewing it as a reason to leave, the family decided to help rebuild the community. “I was worried his wife might say, ‘Well, I’m done. This wasn’t meant to be.’ But instead, it’s as if they realized they wanted to be part of rebuilding,” Buss noted.

Jeanie Buss is known for her straightforward approach to running the franchise. To her, the Lakers are like a family, and their culture of unity is what she believes to be their cornerstone. “We are an exceptionally close-knit team. And I think some of the things we’ve experienced in recent seasons, especially the wildfires in Los Angeles, have further strengthened our bonds,” she remarked.

The entire team rallied around their new coach and his family, who held tightly to their new home. Additionally, JJ Redick demonstrated that he’s the leader capable of guiding the Lakers through adversity—exactly what Jeanie Buss was looking for.