James Borrego, The Los Angeles Lakers are pressing forward in their search for a new head coach following Dan Hurley’s decision to remain with Connecticut. Hurley was the only candidate known to have received an offer, and it appeared he was the top choice from the outset. Now, the Lakers are focusing on other potential hires.
Initially, ESPN’s JJ Redick was widely reported as a strong candidate. While Redick remains in contention, he is no longer seen as the clear frontrunner. Instead, New Orleans Pelicans assistant James Borrego has emerged as a leading candidate, according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.
Borrego, who previously served as the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets, is the only candidate known to have undergone two interviews with the Lakers. He is reportedly favoured by Lakers star Anthony Davis, who briefly worked with Borrego in New Orleans. With LeBron James nearing his 40th birthday in December, the Lakers are prioritizing Davis in this coaching search. Rich Paul, Davis’ agent, emphasized in an interview with Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes that the Lakers’ focus should shift more towards Davis rather than LeBron at this stage.
Redick and Borrego present contrasting profiles. Redick has no coaching experience at the professional or collegiate level but is a well-known figure due to his broadcasting career, including his podcast “Mind the Game” with LeBron James. In contrast, Borrego brings over 20 years of coaching experience, largely as an assistant and in smaller markets. Both are relatively young by coaching standards, with Redick at 39 and Borrego at 46. The Lakers are reportedly seeking a coach who can be a long-term fixture rather than a short-term solution focused solely on the remaining years of James and Davis.
The Lakers aim to finalize their coaching hire by the NBA Draft on June 26th. Securing a coach sooner rather than later would be beneficial as they plan their roster reshaping for the upcoming season. Despite the setback with Hurley, the search is now honing in on Borrego and Redick as the leading candidates.
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