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After the Los Angeles Lakers fired Darvin Ham in early May, we're breaking down the Lakers next coach odds from our best NBA betting sites with JJ Redick as the early favorite.

In the weeks after the Los Angeles Lakers fired Darvin Ham, it felt like an inevitability they would eventually hire former NBA veteran JJ Redick as their next head coach. Those rumors are only growing louder ahead of the 2024 NBA Finals.

On Tuesday, The Athletic's Shams Charania reported that the Lakers were "zeroing in" on Redick as the frontrunner to assume the vacant role in Los Angeles, almost exactly a month after they dismissed Ham following two seasons at the helm.

Redick has been the favorite across our best sports betting sites for weeks, even though he's never coached professionally following 15 seasons as a player. Now, it looks all but certain that he'll get his first shot on the bench for L.A.

Here's a look at the Lakers next coach odds with implied probability via our odds converter, as well as our top NBA picks among the favorites:

Los Angeles Lakers next coach odds

(Odds from FanDuel Ontario as of May 30; odds taken down following reports that Redick is the frontrunner for the job.)

CoachOddsImplied probability
JJ Redick-16061.54%
James Borrego+34022.73%
Sam Cassell+34022.73%
David Adelman+75011.76%
Micah Nori+90010.00%
Chris Quinn+11008.33%
Kenny Atkinson+34002.86%
Terry Stotts+34002.86%
Frank Vogel+48002.04%

Odds only available for bettors in Ontario.

Not intended for use in MA
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Favorites to be next Lakers coach

JJ Redick (-160)

Redick was dealing as a tertiary option between +500 to +1000 when this market first opened, and rumors of his candidacy were just that: rumors.

That's seemingly changed in recent weeks. Charania said recently on the Pat McAfee Show that the finalists are likely down to Redick or James Borrego, which came a day after Lakers reporter Jovan Buha said "all signs point to JJ Redick" for the open position.

Both of those reports came on the heels of senior NBA insider Chris Haynes telling radio host Dan Patrick that he would be "very surprised" if the Lakers' next coach is anyone but Redick:

Redick's NBA experience is limited to his 15 years on the court, one year as a broadcaster, and eight years podcasting. That includes a few months co-hosting a podcast with Lakers star LeBron James. But Los Angeles seemed unperturbed by his lack of traditional coaching experience.

Related: LeBron James next team odds, prediction for 2024-25 season

That's why our best sportsbooks are giving Redick a better than 60% chance of becoming the next Lakers coach, which likely wouldn't be announced until after Redick finishes calling the NBA Finals. As far-fetched as it may seem on the surface, this feels like the likeliest outcome.

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James Borrego (+340)

For years, James Borrego was considered one of the preeminent assistant coaches in the NBA, especially after three years on San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich's staff. That landed him his first head coaching job with the Charlotte Hornets in 2018.

Four years later, the Hornets moved on after a 148-183 record (.447), though that was more a reflection of Charlotte's available roster talent than an indictment on Borrego's coaching. He returned to coaching in 2022-23 as an assistant with the New Orleans Pelicans, and he held a second interview with the Lakers on Wednesday.

Borrego is also a strong candidate for the Cleveland Cavaliers' open position, though he remains a top option for the Lakers, according to Charania. He's also reported to maintain a good relationship with Anthony Davis, who likely has a longer future in Los Angeles than his teammate James.

Sam Cassell (+340)

While all eyes are on Redick and Borrego as the Lakers' top options, Sam Cassell reportedly interviewed with the team for the open position, too.

Still, recent reports suggest that Cassell might be a likelier candidate to be an assistant coach on Redick's staff, alongside other former players such as Rajon Rondo and Jared Dudley. I wouldn't necessarily recommend laying such short odds on Cassell to be the head coach, but never say never with this search.

Long shot to be next Lakers coach

Kenny Atkinson (+3400)

Kenny Atkinson opened as a co-favorite in this market with Mike Budenholzer, whom the Phoenix Suns have since hired. He was briefly the lone favorite before Redick's candidacy took hold as the likeliest option.

I don't expect the Lakers to double back on Atkinson, especially since he's emerged as a serious candidate for the Cavaliers. But given how quickly this search has moved in various directions, these long odds on the former Brooklyn Nets coach intrigue me if Los Angeles ultimately strikes out on its top options.

Lakers head coach FAQs

Who is the favorite to be the next Lakers coach?

JJ Redick is the favorite to be the next Lakers coach with -160 odds. Those odds imply a 61.54% chance that Redick will assume the vacant role in Los Angeles.

When will the Lakers hire their next head coach?

It's been over a month since the Lakers fired Darvin Ham, and they don't appear to be in any major rush to fill the vacant role. With the offseason just around the corner, we can expect a hire to be made sometime in June.

When did the Lakers last win the NBA title?

The Lakers haven't won the NBA Finals since 2020, when Frank Vogel was the coach during the "bubble" postseason. That remains the only title run for this franchise since Phil Jackson led the Lakers to five championships between 2000 and 2010.

Los Angeles Lakers coaching history (since 1999-2000)

CoachSeasonsRecordPlayoffsTitles
Darvin Ham2022-2490-74 (.549)9-12 (.429)Zero
Frank Vogel2019-22127-98 (.564)18-9 (.667)One (2020)
Luke Walton2016-1998-148 (.398)0-0 (.000)Zero
Byron Scott2014-1638-126 (.232)0-0 (.000)Zero
Mike D'Antoni2012-1467-87 (.435)0-4 (.000)Zero
Bernie Bickerstaff2012-134-1 (.800)0-0 (.000)Zero
Mike Brown2011-1342-29 (.592)5-7 (.417)Zero
Frank Hamblen2004-0510-29 (.256)0-0 (.000)Zero
Rudy Tomjanovich2004-0524-19 (.558)0-0 (.000)Zero
Phil Jackson1999-2011610-292 (.676)118-63 (.652)Five (2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010)

Here are our best NBA betting sites:

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