JJ Redicks Offseason Strategy Includes Long Talks With AI

They say the offseason is where champions are made, often in quiet moments of intense preparation. For rookie Lakers coach JJ Redick, that preparation apparently involves long conversations with ChatGPT.

A Coach's AI Confidant

During a recent pre-season press conference, where Lakers President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka announced a surprise contract extension for Redick, the new coach made a surprising announcement of his own: he considers the AI chatbot a friend.

Redick, a former NBA sharpshooter who stepped into his current role just last year, was asked by an ESPN reporter about his drive to keep learning. He explained that his natural curiosity often leads him down interesting paths.

“I’m the type of person who, y’know, spends an hour and a half going down a deep, deep rabbit hole on ChatGPT,” Redick shared. “It used to be Wikipedia, but now it’s me and my friend Chat.”

From Wikipedia to a Virtual Friend

Redick clarified that his summer wasn't just about studying basketball plays and strategies; it was also about envisioning the culture he wants to build with the Lakers. It seems that culture might just include a role for artificial intelligence.

As noted by SB Nation, Redick spent much of the press conference discussing the wisdom he seeks from other professionals, like former NFL quarterback Tom Brady. In this context, ChatGPT could be seen as just another tool for the relatively inexperienced coach to gather information and bounce off ideas.

This intellectual curiosity isn't new for Redick. In 2016, he made history as the first active NBA player to host a podcast, where he interviewed a wide range of guests, including pro golfer Jason Day and quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

A New Playbook for Coaching?

It's also plausible that Redick, who previously only coached at the fourth-grade level, might be using the AI to navigate the immense pressures of his new job. Some might even imagine him having long, reassuring sessions with his AI friend.

Jacob Rude of SB Nation painted a vivid picture: “Redick spoke last season about how he handles losses, saying he goes to his basement in the dark and watches film. And now, all I can picture is Redick sitting in the dark, film rolling in the background, while he has a conversation with ChatGPT.”

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