Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick is set to begin his second season on the sidelines in October, but before training camp arrives, he has been carving out time for another passion in golf.
Speaking with reporters on Thursday, Redick described his offseason as “terrific” and hinted that he soon hopes to share the course with two of his most famous players: LeBron James and his son Bronny.
Although Redick said he has yet to tee it up with either member of the James family, plans are already in motion.
“Bronny [James] and I, we got something set up,” Redick revealed. “Bronny’s got a sick swing, just an absolute natural athlete. A little jealous of him. He’s gonna be a sick golfer.”
LeBron picked up the game more seriously this past summer, and Bronny has quickly become his most frequent partner.
Redick suggested that the younger James already appears more fluid on the course than his father, despite LeBron’s decades of athletic dominance in basketball.
Within months of learning the game, Bronny’s swing has impressed observers, reinforcing his reputation as a versatile athlete.
Redick’s long connection with the game
For Redick, golf is more than a way to relax in the offseason. His interest dates back to 2006, when he first entered the NBA as a rookie with the Orlando Magic.
Over the years, the sport became something of an obsession. After retiring from professional basketball in 2021, Redick admitted he had developed an “intense obsession” with golf, dedicating himself to lowering his scores.
Despite playing for well over a decade, he only managed to break 80 for the first time in 2023. That milestone underscored both the difficulty of the game and his persistence.
Redick acknowledged that while LeBron has shown enthusiasm for golf, the four-time NBA MVP is unlikely to reach elite-level scores soon.
With a smile, Redick quipped that the 40-year-old superstar “would not shoot 65 anytime soon.”
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