Lakers Coach JJ Redick Reveals His AI Coaching Assistant

The NBA offseason is typically a time for intense physical training and strategic planning. Players hit the gym, and coaches fine-tune their playbooks. But for new Lakers head coach JJ Redick, preparation involves a more modern tool: artificial intelligence.

A New Season and a Surprising Revelation

As the Lakers gear up for the new season, JJ Redick and President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka held a joint press conference to set the stage. A major highlight was Pelinka's announcement of a contract extension for Redick, signaling the organization's confidence in their new leader.

During the presser, Redick shared insights into his learning process, mentioning that he had met with esteemed figures like Rams head coach Sean McVay and legendary quarterback Tom Brady. However, it was his next comment that truly captured attention.

Redick's Deep Dives with ChatGPT

When asked about his continuous desire to learn, Redick revealed an unconventional research partner.

“Number one, I do have a general curiosity about stuff,” Redick explained. “I’m the type of person who spends an hour-and-a-half going down a deep, deep rabbit hole on ChatGPT. It used to be Wikipedia but now it’s my friend, Chat.”

While the comment about ChatGPT being his “friend” was clearly tongue-in-cheek, the admission itself was startling to many. The idea of a head coach spending hours consulting an AI raised more than a few eyebrows.

In theory, using every available resource to gather information is a sound strategy. Redick has always been known for his analytical approach, both as a player and a podcaster. Using an AI to quickly explore concepts and data can be seen as an extension of that analytical mindset. Still, the image it creates is certainly unconventional.

An Unconventional Vibe for a New Era

This new revelation adds another layer to Redick's intense coaching persona. Last season, he famously described his process for handling losses, explaining how he goes to his basement in the dark to watch film.

Now, one can't help but picture Redick in that same dark room, with game film rolling as he holds a detailed conversation with his AI assistant. It's a striking image that speaks to a new-age approach to coaching in the NBA.

Whether this method proves to be a stroke of genius or a strange footnote remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: JJ Redick is kicking off his first full season with the Lakers on a very interesting note.

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This post is a repurposed version of an article by Jacob Rude. You can follow him on Twitter or Bluesky.