Basketball coach finds an unlikely friend in ChatGPT, spending hours going 'deep down rabbit holes.' What does he talk about?

When most NBA coaches spend their off-seasons sketching plays or scouting talent, Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick has been spending his downtime with an unusual companion: ChatGPT. At a recent pre-season press conference, where Lakers executive Rob Pelinka confirmed Redick’s contract extension, the coach revealed that he treats the AI chatbot as more than a tool. “I’m the type of person who… spends an hour and a half going down a deep, deep rabbit hole on ChatGPT,” he said, as reported by Futurism .

Redick described the AI assistant as a “friend,” explaining that what once was late-night Wikipedia deep dives has now turned into long sessions with ChatGPT. The conversations, he suggested, go well beyond basketball. His curiosity, he admitted, often pulls him into wide-ranging discussions on culture, ideas, and learning. For a rookie coach still shaping his identity with the Lakers, this AI-powered companionship seems to play a part in his intellectual routine.

Balancing Basketball With Broader Learning
The offseason, Redick emphasized, was not only about drawing up X’s and O’s but about imagining the kind of culture he hopes to foster within the Lakers. This aligns with observations noted by SB Nation’s Jacob Rude, who pointed out that Redick has been actively seeking inspiration from various figures, including former NFL legend Tom Brady. In this context, ChatGPT becomes one more source of reflection and perspective for the coach.

A Pattern of Curiosity
Redick’s reliance on unconventional outlets for insight is not new. Back in 2016, while still an active NBA player, he pioneered athlete-led podcasting with “The Vertical,” where he interviewed sports icons like Jason Day and Aaron Rodgers. His willingness to experiment with different forms of dialogue suggests that talking to ChatGPT is less of a novelty and more of a continuation of his inquisitive streak.

While some might find it odd to picture a coach retreating to his basement after tough games, watching film in the dark while discussing ideas with a chatbot, Redick’s openness to blending technology with personal reflection paints a modern picture of coaching.