Austin Reaves says the Los Angeles Lakers have added a “basketball genius” to the sideline by hiring former ESPN analyst J.J. Redick as head coach.

“I’ve gotten to know JJ a little bit, going on his podcast during the middle of the year,” the Lakers guard told Cierra Clark of Arkansas’ THV11. “He’s a basketball genius, I think as everybody knows, and I think he’s gonna make a good coach and I can’t wait to get to work with him.”

I asked Lakers star and Arkansas native Austin Reaves about the hiring of new Lakers coach JJ Reddick. Reaves says Reddick is a basketball genius and he can't wait to work with him. #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/NP60LHPkeQ

— Cierra Clark (@CierraClarkTV) June 22, 2024

The Lakers hired Redick to a four-year deal worth approximately $8 million per year, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Sam Amick, Jovan Buha.

Redick, who retired from the NBA after 15 seasons in 2021, made his debut with ESPN the same year. He had no prior head coaching experience before signing with the Lakers.

Reaves added that Redick texted him yesterday with a request to “get on a call.”

“I just can’t wait to put our brains together, and go and have a good year,” Reaves said.

The Lakers had originally pursued UConn head coach Dan Hurley, who rejected the Lakers’ six-year, $70 million offer in order to remain in the NCAA, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Redick may not have been the first option for the Lakers’ front office, but Charania, Amick Buha reported that the team’s final choice was backed by Anthony Davis and that “other key players were supportive of the hiring.”

Reaves may have been one of those players after joining Redick’s podcast.

“You got some s–t to you… you’re naturally an assh–e,” Redick said in December about Reaves’ playing style.

After Reaves agreed, Redick added: “Just so you know, when I refer to someone as an assh–e, it’s a good thing. It’s the highest praise.”

Reaves’ agent Aaron Reilly also spoke out in support of Redick’s hiring followed the initial reports that he would be taking over for former Lakers coach Darvin Ham.

“This coach is about to show a different part of Austin’s game none have you seen,” Reilly wrote, adding: “Great hire for LA.”

The 26-year-old guard averaged a career-high 15.9 points and 5.5 assists per game and could hope to further improve those numbers under his new head coach.