Los Angeles Lakers narrow head coach search to 3 with LeBron James influence clear

The Lakers have narrowed their coaching search to three candidates , including star player LeBron James ' podcast co-host.

Los Angeles fired Darvin Ham earlier in May after just two seasons following a first-round playoff loss and will consider J.J. Redick, who played in the NBA from 2006-2021 and features with James on the "Mind the Game" podcast, among two other candidates.

NBA insider Shams Charania told Run It Back , FanDuelTV's flagship NBA program, that Redick, James Borrego, and Sam Cassell are the leading coaching targets for Los Angeles. The Lakers will start a formal process for hiring their new coach in the coming days.

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James and the Lakers both enter a period of noted uncertainty, as the NBA's all-time leading scorer has the opportunity to decline his player option, worth $51.4 million, and become an unrestricted free agent - while Los Angeles searches for its fourth head coach in seven seasons since "King James" arrived in Tinseltown. Despite speculation that James has an active role in shaping the Lakers' roster, Charania also confirmed earlier this week that he has no part in determining LA's new boss.

While Redick hasn't coached at the professional, collegiate or even high school level - the Duke product's highest level of managerial experience came coaching his son's U-10 travel team - the 15-year NBA veteran has attracted head coaching interest for his prized basketball mind, also interviewing for the Charlotte Hornets opening in April.

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A career 41.5 percent 3-point shooter, Redick also has a unique connection to the franchise, as Charania reported that former college coach Mike Krzyzewski has been a special advisor to Los Angeles in their coaching search.

However, while James is certainly the biggest name on the Lakers roster and has spoken about his desire to play at least two more seasons in the league, the Lakers' checklist for a new coach priorities fellow star forward Anthony Davis .

The eight-time All-Star signed an extension with Los Angeles last offseason that keeps him in yellow and purple through 2028, and further developing Davis is the primary goal for a new Lakers boss.