Lawrence Frank, one-time head coach of the New Jersey Nets (and Teaneck, NJ native) is a local hero to hoop fans in New Jersey. An unlikely choice to rise to the ranks of NBA head coach — sure he went to Indiana, but he didn’t play there — Frank may have given New Jersey basketball fans another little gift recently. This time it’s going to South Jersey fans, who lean more toward the 76ers than the Knicks/Nets axis. Frank is currently the VP of basketball operations for the LA Clippers. It was Frank who kindly told shooting guard extraordinaire JJ Redick that he better look for a new place to play. That turned out to be in Philadelphia with the 76ers, Redick seeming like just the veteran the young talent-rich Sixrs needs to push to the next level.
Redick revealed on his podcast, The Chronicles of Redick, that “on June 29 Lawrence Frank was nice enough and professional enough to give me a call — I call it my break-up call. He basically said we’re not going to bring you back.” Go East, young man, is what Redick apparently heard. Frank may never have made his high school basketball team, but to New Jersey fans he keeps giving back. Redick signed a one-year deal with Philly for $23 million.
