Newly appointed Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick has vehemently denied allegations that he used a racial slur during his college playing days at Duke University. The allegation surfaced shortly after Redick held his inaugural press conference as the Lakers’ head coach on Monday.
The Allegation
The controversy began on Tuesday when author and speaker Halleemah Nash took to X (formerly Twitter) to share her experience. Nash alleged that she was called the N-word by Redick while working with the Duke basketball team. “I’ve only been called the N-word to my face by a white man once in my life and it was on the campus of Duke University while I was doing work with the basketball team. And today [sic] he was named the new head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. What a world,” Nash wrote.
Timeline and Context
Redick played for Duke from 2002 to 2006. Nash’s LinkedIn profile indicates that she worked with the team in 2003 and 2004. Although Nash did not specify the exact timing of the incident, her tweet quickly gained traction, amassing millions of views within hours.
Redick’s Response
On Tuesday night, a spokesperson for Redick denied the allegations, telling TMZ Sports, “No, it never happened.” The spokesperson’s denial was an unequivocal rejection of Nash’s claims.
Nash’s Follow-Up
Later on Tuesday, Nash provided additional context on X, reflecting on the incident and acknowledging the potential for personal growth. “This was years ago and I’m a believer that we all have space to grow- especially from our college level maturity,” Nash wrote. “We live in a world where these exchanges happen and the intersection of race and privilege and lack of accountability all collided w/that presser.”
Redick’s Career
JJ Redick, 40, enjoyed a distinguished 15-year NBA career, playing for teams such as the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Clippers, and Philadelphia 76ers. He was named national college player of the year in 2006, and his No. 4 jersey was retired by Duke. After retiring from professional basketball in 2021, Redick transitioned to a successful media career, including a role as a commentator for this year’s NBA finals and co-hosting a popular podcast with LeBron James. Upon accepting the Lakers head coaching position, Redick announced he would step away from the podcast to focus on his new role.
Moving Forward
As Redick steps into his new role with the Lakers, the allegations present an unexpected challenge. The basketball community and fans will be watching closely to see how both Redick and the Lakers organization handle the situation. For now, Redick remains focused on leading the Lakers, a team that includes superstar LeBron James, as they prepare for the upcoming NBA season.
The post New Lakers Coach JJ Redick Denies Allegation of Using N-Word at Duke first appeared on The Source.
The post New Lakers Coach JJ Redick Denies Allegation of Using N-Word at Duke appeared first on The Source.