"Usually bound to be fired within a year" - Joel Embiid wishes JJ Redick the best despite perils of first-time coaching

Joel Embiid has shared a message to former NBA player JJ Redick, who was selected as the new coach for the LA Lakers. While Redick says that he took the job because he likes challenges, Embiid doubts Redick made the right choice.

The 2023 NBA MVP, who played with Redick during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers, said that Redick has put himself in a tough situation.

“If I was him, I don’t know if that’s a perfect situation. Maybe he thinks that’s a perfect situation. … It’s kind of a make-or-break situation, because if you succeed, great, you’re going to be coaching for years.

"But if you don’t succeed, those coaches are usually bound to be fired within a year or two. I love him. I’m happy for him, but that’s a tough job.”

Joel Embiid is not entirely wrong about the situation that JJ Redick has put himself in. The former player might be playing it cool about the challenge of the Lakers coaching job but also knows what's expected by the organization. Redick is the fourth coach the Lakers have hired since LeBron James joined the team.

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JJ Redick puts Joel Embiid in starting lineup of teammates he has played with

JJ Redick has played with some of the best young and veteran players in the league. From Vince Carter to Chris Paul, the list of his teammates is elite. One of the reasons Redick is a basketball savant is because he has also picked up knowledge from the best players.

In February this year, Redick was asked to name the starting lineup of the teammates he had played with in his career. Including every player in their prime, Redick took Embiid to play the center position. Redick's team had Chris Paul at PG, Luka Doncic at SG, Jimmy Butler at SF, Blake Griffin at PF and Joel Embiid at C.

Interestingly, Redick had taken Vince Carter's name instead of Doncic, but he later subbed Carter with the Dallas Mavericks star.

During his two seasons with the Sixers, Redick had become very close to Joel Embiid. In the same interview with the NY Times, he said that when the Sixers front office chose to trade Redick and Butler after the 2018-19 season, he had a lot of questions. He also added that the next season, he didn't want to play basketball.

During the two seasons Redick played with the Sixers, he averaged 17.1 points in 2018 and 18.1 points in 2019. He also shot 42% and 39.7% from the 3-point line in consecutive seasons.