JJ Redick adds Lindsey Harding, G League Coach of the Year, as Lakers assistant

Another star will try to help the Lakers shine bright next season.

On Tuesday, Lindsey Harding finalized a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers to become an assistant coach, on JJ Redick’s staff, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Harding brings a bundle of experience.

Last season with the Stockton Kings, Harding was named G League Coach of the Year, becoming the first woman ever to win the award.

She led the team to the Western Conference finals with a record of 24-10.

Harding knows Redick quite well. The two are alums of Duke, where they both played as Blue Devils.

Over her collegiate career, Harding averaged 9.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.9 steals while shooting 45.5 percent.

It helped her become the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 WNBA Draft.

Harding spent nine seasons in the WNBA, where she played with Phoenix and Atlanta.

She also competed in the 2012 WNBA Finals before crossing paths with Redick again.

She was an assistant and player development coach for the Philadelphia 76ers — while Redick was playing for he team — and the Sacramento Kings.

Redick, who retired from the NBA in 2021, took over as the Lakers head coach in June despite not having any prior coaching experience.

Since then, he added Nate McMillan, Scott Brooks and Greg St. Jean, who all have NBA coaching experience.

Earlier in April, Harding interviewed for Charlotte’s head coach job.

Had the opportunity come to fruition, Harding would’ve been the first woman to be hired as a head coach in the NBA.

Instead, Charles Lee got the position, and Harding is now set to join the Lakers staff with Redick and Co. 

The staff likely will have a busy season.

The Lakers picked up Dalton Knecht and Bronny James in the 2024 NBA Draft — who will look to develop this year — and the organization is returning LeBron James on a two-year, $104 million contract and it looks to improve on their first round playoff.