SHANNON Sharpe issued an on-air warning to new Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick.
The former NFL Hall of Famer and avid Lakers fan warned that Redick fans will expect instant results next season.
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Redick was announced as the new head coach in Los Angeles after a lengthy search for the organization.
The former NBA star was previously a regular analyst alongside Sharpe and Stephen A. Smith on ESPN’s First Take.
Sharpe was asked during Tuesday’s edition what the “realistic expectations” would be for Redick and his team heading into the 2024-25 season.
And Shannon pulled no punches in demanding instant success from her former colleague.
“If you’re the coach of the Lakers or the Boston Celtics, the expectation is the championship,” Sharpe told the First Take panel.
“The Lakers have been to 32 NBA Finals and won 17.
“You know what the expectations are. You know what you signed up for. You signed up to win a championship.
“Laker Nation doesn’t care who the players are – all they see is purple and gold.
“And when you wear that shirt, expectations rise.”
Redick signed a four-year contract at the Crypto.com Arena, for ESPN.
The 40-year-old admitted at a press conference on Monday that he had little coaching experience despite 15 years in the league as a player.
But Sharpe is hopeful he can join Los Angeles’ older stars to win their first title since 2020.
“He probably never imagined in his wildest dreams that his first NBA coaching job would be with the Lakers,” Sharpe continued.
“I hope he trains well and it’s his [first and only] work.”
“You have LeBron, you have Anthony Davis. Very few teams can say we have two all-NBA players on their roster,” he added.
‘Who talks about the WNBA the most?’
Stephen A. Smith had a disagreement with Monica McNutt on First Take about women’s basketball this week.
Smith said she didn’t like how she had to “watch every syllable” when talking about the WNBA, but McNutt wasn’t happy with her statement.
“Welcome to the world of being a woman, Stephen A,” she said.
“How you have to dance about your choice of words and how you have to please everyone as you navigate your being.”
Stephen A. made a comment that really excited McNutt.
“Who talks more about the WNBA, who talks more about women’s sports than First Take?” Stephen A. said.
McNutt was clearly irritated by her question and set the record straight on live TV.
“Stephen A., respectfully, with your platform, you could have been doing this three years ago if you wanted,” McNutt said.
Molly Qerim and Shannon Sharpe looked stunned, and Qerim tried to take the show to a commercial break, but the awkward moment continued.
After Stephen A. muttered “wow,” McNutt assured him that he thought he could have done more.
“You’re my guy,” McNutt said.
“But I’m talking to you.”
“You’re my girl,” Smith replied.
“But you missed too many episodes of First Take.”
Stephen A., fresh off his appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals on Monday, thanked Redick for his contribution to First Take last year.
“To JJ Redick, congratulations #1,” Smith said.
“We support our teammates here. We are rooting for you.
“We hope you make the Lakers a success and have a prosperous coaching career.”
Redick was confident during his reveal that he could take the Lakers to another level after last season’s playoff disappointment.
“If the Los Angeles Lakers get better every day on Opening Day, I’m very confident that by April we’ll be a championship-caliber team,” Redick said, per Yahoo.
“You still need a lot of things to go right and a lot of things can’t go wrong. That’s every champion team.
“I want to coach the Lakers. I want to coach the team. I don’t want to dissipate anything.
“I want to become a great coach in the NBA. I want to win championships.
“I want my players to maximize their careers. That’s all I care about.”
The first broadcast airs every weekday starting at 10 a.m. ET on ESPN.
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