The Los Angeles Lakers’ pursuit and ultimate hiring of JJ Redick as their next head coach has put many of ESPN’s talking heads in the uncomfortable position of having to publicly discuss their former colleague.
But despite allegations claiming otherwise, Stephen A. Smith made it clear he’s rooting for Redick in Los Angeles.
“Before I get into the basketball portion of this conversation, I don’t think I’m out of pocket by speaking on behalf of this entire show,” Smith said on Tuesday’s episode of First Take . “To JJ Redick, No. 1, congratulations. And No. 2, I don’t know how it works at other networks, but we root for our teammates here. So make no mistake about it, all of us are rooting for you. All of us want you to succeed, JJ, congratulations. And we hope that you make the Lakers a raving success and you have a very prosperous coaching career. That’s what we do here.”
Smith’s comments come just days after another ESPN colleague, Pat McAfee, spoke out regarding the network’s treatment of Redick in the leadup to him landing the Lakers’ job.