JJ Redick Faces $83 Million Loss For Lakers Job After Ditching Podcast Career – Here’s How

Only three years into his retirement from playing professional basketball, JJ Redick is already preparing for his third career. Finally becoming the Lakers new head coach after months of speculations, JJ revealed during a press conference earlier today that he’ll be putting a hold on his thriving media career, at least for now. “I am done with podcasting for now.” And it is a very bold move by the forty-year-old because he might be on the verge of losing nearly $83 million after taking up his new job.

As JJ signed with the Lakers for four years, the salary he will be paid remains undisclosed. But reports suggest that the figure is somewhere in the ball park of eight million annually, taking it to nearly $32 million for the whole tenure. While it is a decent number for a first-time coach, JJ could have made a lot more money staying his original course of building a legacy in the sports media world.

From his multiple podcasts including the one with LeBron James to him becoming one of the primary analysts on ESPN and announcing this year’s NBA Finals with legends like Doris Burke and Mike Breen, JJ’s transition from a player to a media personnel has been nothing less than a dream. Making close to $115 million over the course of his fifteen-year career as a player, ESPN’s Dan Le Batard even claimed that JJ could surpass that number in the media space if he sticks to it for a long time. With NFL legend Pat McAfee reportedly making $17 million per year and veteran analyst Stephen A. Smith making $12 million, JJ could have bagged a similar number by signing with ESPN instead of taking the head coaching job in LA. But his itch to get back in the competitive space of the sport was big enough to make him overlook the possible $83 million loss from giving up his media career.

JJ Redick wants to win Championships in LA

Focusing strictly on the task at hand, that is helping the Lakers win a title, JJ doesn’t want to be distracted by his media commitments. “For the time being, and hopefully it’s a very very long time, I am excommunicated from the content space.” Keeping that same mentality, JJ also ignored all the critics who are doubting his ability to handle the pressure of being a coach in the NBA, especially a storied franchise like the Lakers. “I want to become a great coach in the NBA, and I want to win championships. And I want my players to maximize their careers. That’s all I f**king care about.” He remarked.

Maybe, this zeal to win is what caused JJ to give up his media career, where he could have easily made millions with far less pressure and scrutiny. Long before he was even hired as the head coach, JJ revealed on the Road Trippin’ Podcast why he could consider becoming a coach even though his media career was going great at the time and was in an upward trajectory, “What I really miss is the juice. I miss the action, I miss the competition, I miss leadership, I miss being on a team… And the part about coaching in general is the things that I miss and the things that I love doing that involves coaching. That all is part of coaching.”

And in case JJ excels at his new job as the head coach, he will likely get a massive pay rise on his next contract which will recover all his losses. With coaches like Steve Kerr and Erik Spoelstra bagging massive deals, JJ could reach than number in LA if he leads the Lakers to a title in these four years.

Before you go, do not forget to check out what Shaquille O’Neal’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato has to say about the alleged Shaq and Kobe Lakers beef. Keep checking this space for more such updates.