The Los Angeles Lakers have a new head coach and a public relations nightmare.
A Black woman named Halleemah Nash claims former NBA player JJ Reddick called her the N-word while they were students at Duke University.
She tweeted: “I’ve only been called the N word to my face by a white man once in my life and it was on the campus of Duke University while I was doing work with the basketball team. And today he was named the new head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. What a world.”
I’ve only been called the N word to my face by a white man once in my life and it was on the campus of Duke University while I was doing work with the basketball team. And today he was named the new head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. What a world.
— Halleemah Nash (@halleemah) June 25, 2024
Reddick, 40, is the all-time leading scorer for Duke University’s men’s basketball team.
He was picked 11th overall by the Orlando Magic in the 2006 NBA draft. He played 15 seasons in the NBA.
The Lakers signed Reddick to a four-year contract that pays him about $8 million a year as head coach.
That’s good money for someone whose experience is limited to coaching a 4th grade boys team as a volunteer.
To be fair, JJ Reddick only took half a season to get that 4th grade team turned around and on to the Boy’s and Girl’s Club finals. He’s qualified to coach the @Lakers #NBA pic.twitter.com/lWymevwPyp
— Kevin Quinn (@FounderQuinn) June 25, 2024
But even before Reddick was accused of being a racist, he made a terrible first impression on reporters covering his introductory press conference as Lakers coach on Monday.
Everyone knows Reddick got the job because of his friendship with Lakers superstar LeBron James.
But Reddick denies James played any role in the team’s decision to hire him.
Here’s how Reddick answered one reporter’s question.
Is this AI or did JJ Reddick really just casually drop f bombs in his introductory presser. This is such a bad bit. (Cue all the people who are incorrect telling me I’m soft and a boomer). You’re at the mic, in public. Act like a pro. pic.twitter.com/ljoJQeyhez
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) June 25, 2024
