Veteran Coaches McMillan and Brooks Join Lakers as Redick's Lead Assistants

Longtime NBA head coaches Nate McMillan and Scott Brooks are set to join the Los Angeles Lakers as the top assistants on JJ Redick's coaching staff, sources informed ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The two veteran coaches have a combined experience of 2,363 NBA games and are expected to provide substantial support to Redick in his inaugural year as a head coach.

McMillan's most recent role was with the Atlanta Hawks during the 2022-23 season. He initially took over from Lloyd Pierce midway through the 2020-21 season and guided the team to the Eastern Conference Finals that same year. Over his two-and-a-half-season tenure in Atlanta, McMillan amassed a 99-80 record before being dismissed in February 2023. His coaching career began in the 1999-00 season as an assistant to Paul Westphal with the Seattle Supersonics.

In addition to his time in Seattle, McMillan has served as the head coach for the Portland Trail Blazers and the Indiana Pacers across multiple seasons.

Brooks has a seven-season tenure as the head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder, followed by five seasons with the Washington Wizards. He led both teams to numerous postseason appearances, including a Finals run in 2012 with the Thunder, featuring the star trio of Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook. Brooks has also held assistant coaching positions on various staffs, most recently with the Portland Trail Blazers alongside Chauncey Billups.

This collaboration marks the first time McMillan and Brooks have worked together in the league. They have also never served as head coaches for Redick, who played 15 NBA seasons with six different teams.