NBA Coach of the Year Odds: Why is JJ Redick Among the Favorites?

It was only a few weeks ago that JJ Redick split his time announcing the NBA playoffs while hosting a podcast.

Now, he’s somehow among the favorites to win Coach of the Year.

Yes, you read that right.

A man with absolutely zero coaching experience is currently tied for the third-best odds at DraftKings (+1200) behind only Boston’s Joe Mazzulla (+1000) and Orlando’s Jamahl Mosley (+1000). He’s tied with Philadelphia’s Nick Nurse and somehow favored over some of the most heralded names in the league including Oklahoma City’s reigning Coach of the Year Mark Daigneault (+1300),  Miami’s Erik Spoelstra (+1400), Minnesota’s Chris Finch (+1400), San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich (+1800), New York’s Tom Thibodeau (+2200) and many, many others.

Redick – who is the 29^th head coach in Los Angeles Lakers’ history – wasn’t even the team’s first choice. That distinction belongs to UConn’s Dan Hurley, who spurned Los Angeles after a very public courtship. Redick now aims to break a streak of short-lived Lakers coaching tenures since Phil Jackson retired in 2011. They’ve had seven head coaches over the last 13 years, with none lasting more than three seasons.

Still, somehow, someway, oddsmakers like Redick’s chances to win the coveted award despite his lack of experience. They’re also somewhat bullish on the Lakers’ title chances after a disappointing 2023-24 campaign, listing them at +3000, which is ninth-best in the league.

NBA Coach of the Year Odds