New Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick is accused of using the N-word at an African-American woman during his visit to Duke in the early 2000s.
The accusation was made in a social media post by entrepreneur Halleemah Nash.
“I have only been called the N-word to my face by a white man once in my life and that was on the campus of Duke University while I was working on the basketball team,” Nash wrote on X on Tuesday. “And today he was named the new head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. What a world.’
The 40-year-old Redick was named head coach of the Lakers earlier this week.
Neither his agent nor Lakers spokespeople responded to DailyMail.com’s request for comment Tuesday evening. However, a spokesperson for Redick has denied the claim TMZ: ‘No, that never happened.’
JJ Redick has been accused of using the N-word against a woman during a visit to Duke
Nash (pictured) claims Redick called her the N-word while working with Duke Basketball
Nash did not respond to DailyMail.com’s request for more information.
According to Nash’s LinkedIn page, she coordinated a “Blue Devil Inner City Youth Project” with the Duke basketball team between August 2003 and August 2004.
Redick has been a controversial choice to replace the fired Darvin Ham in Los Angeles because the former Duke star and sharp-shooting NBA guard has no coaching experience. Since retiring in 2021, Redick has worked primarily in media, announcing games for ESPN and even creating a podcast with Lakers star LeBron James.
“I’ve never coached in the NBA before,” Redick joked at Monday’s press conference. “I don’t know if you heard that.”
Redick has denied having any contact with James about the coaching position in Los Angeles, which was first offered to Connecticut coach Dan Hurley.
The accusation was made in a social media post by entrepreneur Halleemah Nash
On Monday, Redick said he didn’t mind being the Lakers’ second pick after Hurley snubbed the team earlier this month.
“At no point were my ego or my feelings hurt or bruised in any way,” Redick said. “Dan Hurley is a two-time national champion at UConn. I am a two-time 55 Swish League champion in the third and fourth divisions. I understood, you know?’
Reddick and wife Chelsea Kilgore, born in Cookeville, Tennessee, have two children.
He graduated from Duke in 2006 and went on to a successful NBA career with the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, New Orleans Pelicans and Dallas Mavericks.