JJ Redick admits he’s a sicko and a masochist
Despite having a blossoming media career, JJ Redick opted to jump into the coaching ranks with the Lakers because, in his own words, he’s a sicko.
The coaching profession is not a forgiving one. Head coaches cycle through the league at a remarkable rate, and that’s to speak nothing about the Lakers’ own issues in retaining coaches.
It takes a person with a love for the game to join that carousel willingly. Or, as JJ Redick put it, a real sicko.
Redick joined the ESPN broadcast for Friday’s Lakers-Rockets Summer League game in Las Vegas and was asked by Doris Burke why he left media to become a coach.
“I felt a calling to coach. Part of that is that I’m just a sicko and I’m a masochist and I want to sign up for high stakes, high pressure. The other part of it is, in my retirement, I realized what gives me fulfillment and what gives me drive and motivation and that’s competition, that’s performance, that’s collaboration, being part of a team…the other parts of that are leadership and service. I said this in my press conference, like a big driving factor in this for me is I just want to help people. I want to help players. I want to help coaches. I want to empower people. I, obviously, want to help this Lakers organization get back to the top.”
The Lakers got themselves a real sicko as their coach now. To be fair, this is what they reportedly wanted. And while we mocked them at the team — rightfully so, I still contend — the Lakers were looking for someone who was a “grinder.”
Is being a masochist a bonus qualification?
Either way, the Lakers aren’t going to have to worry about their new head coach getting outworked. However much that was a concern with Darvin Ham — and to be clear, that was never something explicitly stated about him, but instead just reading between the lines — that shouldn’t be an issue with Redick.
Because, really, anyone who leaves a secure job to become head coach of the Lakers really is a special kind of sicko.
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude.