The Toronto Raptors’ coaching search after the firing of Nick Nurse has been anything but conventional. Not only have names like Becky Hammon managed to wiggle their way into the collective consciousness of this fanbase, but JJ Redick has become one of the most discussed names in Canadian sports today.
Redick, who has spent his post-playing career on TV as an analyst for ESPN, was interviewed by the Raptors as they search for their next head coach. This is certainly an unusual choice, as Redick has not been on an NBA sideline in any coaching capacity in his life.
NBA Twitter was completely bemused by this decision. While Redick was a well-respected veteran player with a long career and has proven himself to be a sharp mind on television, hiring someone with as many NBA games coaches as you and I could be a risky proposition.
Raptors Twitter, and NBA Twitter as a collective, reacted to this news with a mixture of confusion, optimism (or coping, depending on your perspective), and all sorts of predictions when it comes to what a team led by Reddick can accomplish.
Fifteen-year NBA veteran and ESPN analyst JJ Redick has interviewed for the Toronto Raptors’ coaching job, sources tell ESPN. Redick was part of a first-round of candidates to meet with franchise leadership.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 10, 2023
NBA Twitter reacts to Toronto Raptors/JJ Redick news.
Kendrick Perkins, Redick’s co-worker at ESPN, is a fan of this move, saying he would “demand the locker room” and “speak the players (sic) language” while praising his basketball smarts. Perk wants more former players as coaches.
This actually would be a great hire for Toronto! JJ knows is sh%t and will demand the locker room… plus he can speak the players language!!! Anytime a former player can get in that seat… I’m all here for it https://t.co/5qla7QtJJX
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) May 10, 2023
Former 76ers wing and Celtics assistant Evan Turner joked about Redick coaching his son’s basketball team, saying that his stint was apparently so impressive that Masai got on the horn with him.
@jj_redick you must be drawing up some CRAZY ATOs for your son’s team!!
— Evan Turner (@thekidet) May 10, 2023
Redick has no NBA coaching experience, which is not what fans of a Raptors team that disappointed mightily last season would want to see. Perhaps bring him on as an assistant first?
Make JJ Redick an assistant coach. I’d be okay with that. But, to be fair, I doubt he’d want such a role if a potential head coaching gig is in play.
— Chris Walder (@WalderSports) May 10, 2023
Unless JJ blows everyone else away in the interview process, I’d rather see someone with some semblance of coaching experience.
Some were a bit less optimistic about the Raptors’ chances of contending with Redick, with one fan hoping for relocation instead of the team bringing Redick in as the coach. That’s one way to make your position on the matter firmly known.
I would rather the Raptors relocate the franchise than hire JJ Reddick as head coach
— Abdul Malik, WGC (@MarxGasol) May 10, 2023
The idea of one of the best shooters in NBA history in Redick taking over a Raptors team that was oftentimes painfully ineffective from 3-point range. If Nurse, who wrote a book on shooting, couldn’t fix them, would Redick?
jj redick after beating the entire raptors team in every shooting drill on his first day as raptors head coach: pic.twitter.com/lBQdbzknw2
— alex (@steven_lebron) May 10, 2023
Redick’s candidacy has made him the most controversial name in the Raptors’ head coaching search. He could be a Steve Nash-type flop if he fails, but the Raptors could also and a rising star in the industry if they get in on the ground floor before anyone else does.