The Los Angeles Lakers are adding a new face to their coaching staff, hiring Duke Blue Devils director of player development Justin Robinson.
Robinson joins the Lakers as a player development coach—an area that has become increasingly important since the team brought in JJ Redick as head coach. The focus on development was evident with the 2024 draft class, where rookies Dalton Knecht and Bronny James both showed promising signs during their first year.
Duke’s reputation for producing NBA-ready talent speaks volumes, especially in this year’s draft with Cooper Flagg going No. 1 overall, followed by Kon Knueppel at No. 4 and Khaman Maluach at No. 10. With Duke confirming Robinson’s move to Los Angeles, he now becomes part of Redick’s developmental team.
While the Lakers are traditionally championship-driven, the NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement has pushed teams to extract value from young, inexpensive players. That shift makes player development even more vital. With Robinson onboard, he’ll now be working closely with Knecht, James, and second-round pick Adou Thiero, among others.
Robinson is presumed to have played a pivotal role in developing Duke’s top lottery talent, but his ability to elevate less heralded prospects will be something to watch. Redick, aiming to assemble a top-tier coaching staff, clearly values his connection to Robinson and believes he can help nurture the Lakers’ young core.
