Devin Booker, Bam Adebayo, and LeBron James are all present to show their support for the USA Basketball Women’s Olympic Team.

Ty Abbott Named J.J. Redick’s Primary Assistant for Player Development at the Lakers

Early in the offseason, the Los Angeles Lakers made the most sensational announcement by hiring JJ Redick as head coach.

The hiring of Redick by the Lakers was a foregone conclusion once his broadcasting obligation for the 2024 NBA Playoffs ended. But it took months for Los Angeles to settle Redick’s other staff members.

Nate McMillan and Scott Brooks, two seasoned veterans of the NBA bench, make up the core of Redick’s coaching staff. Along with Beau Levesque and Lindsey Harding, the ensemble is completed by Greg St. Jean. As for the team’s video coordinator position, Michael Wexler was brought on board.

His agency, CSE, said that the Lakers have reportedly recruited Ty Abbott to serve as their lead development player coach, continuing Redick’s lengthy remarks about the importance of player development within the club.

During his four years with the Chicago Bulls, Abbott worked his way up from player development coordinator to player development coach. Before that, Abbott got his start with the Philadelphia 76ers’ G League club, the Delaware Blue Coats, and then worked as a player development associate for them.

It was probably their time together in Philadelphia, when they had some crossover, that led to the connection that ultimately resulted in this employment.

After Abbott’s professional basketball career ended overseas, he quickly jumped into teaching. Now he has a great chance to make an impression with the Lakers, a team that values youth development highly. Abbott will have the most impact on players like Bronny James, Maxwell Lewis, and Colin Castleton. On the other side, he needs to pitch in with the rest of the South Bay Lakers’ players.

It is encouraging to see the organization’s investment in player development, as general manager Rob Pelinka acknowledged the need to do so in light of the new CBA’s tough regulations on teams that choose to go beyond the first and second aprons. The Lakers have been successful in the past by acquiring players through trades or free agency, but they will be better prepared for the future if they can do a better job of developing their players in-house.

When the regular season begins, Lakers forward Jalen Hood-Schifino should be fully healthy.Jalen Hood-Schifino, who struggled in his rookie year, is another youngster who Ty Abbott will probably work with. Hood-Schifino is anticipated to be ready to begin the regular season despite undergoing back surgery during the offseason.