Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Report: Raptors Have Interviewed JJ Redick to be Team's Next Head Coach
The Toronto Raptors are truly leaving no stone unturned as they continue to search for their next head coach.
The latest name to draw interest is reportedly JJ Redick who interviewed for the gig, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Toronto’s interest was first reported by Sportsnet’s Micahel Grange.
The 38-year-old Redick is currently a media personality and host of the Old Man & the Three podcast as well as an ESPN contributor. He retired from the NBA in 2021 and has reportedly been approached by teams to be a coach in the past.
Redick had previously said he had “literally zero interest” in becoming a head coach except if Duke, his alma mater, offered him a job. That, however, appears to have changed as Redick has acknowledged he previously considered taking an NBA job but felt the timing wasn’t right, he told Esquire.
Redick has no previous coaching experience, but Toronto has been willing to take chances on coaches with unusual careers in the past. Nick Nurse, for example, had no NBA coaching experience when he was tabbed for the job in 2018. He was a longtime assistant for the team and did have multiple previous head coaching jobs in the G League and overseas.
Toronto is also reportedly considering Becky Hammon, current Las Vegas Aces head coach with no previous NBA head coaching experience. She would be the first female coach to earn an NBA head coaching job if she’s chosen for the job.
There’s no exact timetable on when Toronto plans to conclude its coaching search but ideally, the organization would like to have a coach in place before the NBA Draft on June 22.
Further Reading
O.G. Anunoby earns a spot on NBA's All-Defensive teams
Report: Executives believe Raptors won't retain Gary Trent Jr. in free agency
Becky Hammon's basketball know-how and adaptability should excite Raptors despite risks
