Report: Former Thunder coach Scott Brooks joins Lakers' staff

07/03/2024 01:00 PM

The Los Angeles Lakers made the polarizing decision to hire JJ Redick as their head coach.

The former NBA player enters the job with zero coaching experience, which means he must surround himself with former head coaches.

The Lakers have done exactly that. Former Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Scott Brooks was added to Redick’s staff, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Brooks led the Thunder to their first taste of success. He was the head coach from 2008-15. This came after he was an assistant the previous season. His tenure was highlighted by OKC’s NBA Finals appearance in 2012.

The Thunder moved on from Brooks in 2015 and hired Billy Donovan as his replacement. The former quickly found a new gig when he was the Washington Wizards head coach from 2016-21.

Since then, he’s spent the last three years with the Portland Trail Blazers as an assistant. This is a lateral move for the 58-year-old as he goes to Los Angeles to help Redick be successful.

ESPN Sources: The Los Angeles Lakers are hiring Nate McMillan and Scott Brooks as top assistant coaches on JJ Redick's new staff. Redick gets two longtime head coaches with a combined 1,189 victories to surround him. pic.twitter.com/zRtTNlroFp

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 3, 2024