J.J. Outlaw, a former NFL player turned NBA coach, has once again taken on the head coaching duties for an NBA summer league team. This will be his third go-round in the position. He had done it before in 2018 with the Memphis Grizzlies and in 2021 with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Outlaw is currently an assistant coach with the Washington Wizards. He’s establishing his coaching legacy right now in the beautiful game of basketball.
From his days in the National Football League, Outlaw began his coaching career after an illustrious professional football career. His father, John Outlaw—who played defensive back for ten years in the NFL—left a lasting impression in many aspects. John Outlaw would eventually move into basketball coaching, and that experience made a big impact on J.J. He was a four-year varsity basketball player at Mount Saint Joseph High School in Baltimore. Later a three-time All-Atlantic 10 Conference honoree at Villanova University, he joined the Schully-centric football Hall of Fame this past January.
J.J. Outlaw has established himself as one of the preeminent and most sought after young coaches. Additionally, he’s won five championships as a player and assistant coach, under three head coaches. His coaching philosophy is rooted in attention to detail, especially on both sides of the ball with offensive and defensive concepts and schemes. He stated,
“We’ve got to be great on the offensive side, the defensive side, but also our SOBs [sideline out-of-bounds plays], our special situations, and really paying attention to the details.” – J.J. Outlaw
Outlaw started his coaching career back in 2011 as a video coordinator with the Los Angeles Lakers under Mike Brown. His playing career with the team lasted only six seasons, but he was able to learn from great coaches such as Mike D’Antoni and Byron Scott. This was experience that would later position him. In 2016 he joined then-head coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s staff with the Memphis Grizzlies as an assistant coach.
JJ Outlaw had developed a close personal relationship with Bickerstaff. His professional mentor and godfather, Bickerstaff has played a masterful role in Lopez’s trajectory. The two share an even deeper bond — they’re married — which makes their joint effort in coaching even more special. Outlaw often reflects on this connection, saying,
“The conversations that we have, there’s nothing that I’m doing that he hasn’t seen. So it’s a great sounding board.” – J.J. Outlaw
Over the course of this summer league, Outlaw will have a wide-ranging opportunity to show off his coaching acumen. It provides an important opportunity for him to cultivate young talent. He knows how hard it is to compete at this level and he’s learned that you need a full squad to get it done, saying,
“It’s very difficult to win any type of competition with one of those three or two of those three missing.” – J.J. Outlaw
As he gets ready for this season’s summer league games and beyond, Outlaw is still focused on ongoing development as a first-time head coach. Instead, he thinks he has to earn his way each and every day. This necessity drives his motivation and enthusiasm for the sport. He remarked,
“I think the point where I stop feeling like I need to prove myself every day is a point where I lose my edge.” – J.J. Outlaw
Will Dawkins, a colleague who has observed Outlaw’s coaching style, praised his ability to connect with players and articulate his vision effectively. He stated,
“He has a very good coaching voice, can meet people where they’re at and also see the vision.” – Will Dawkins
With his story, you can see the continued passion and adaptability that has marked his incredible journey through the years. His understanding of leadership—both on and off the field—stems from his life experiences that have led him to this point. He certainly enters his new role as head coach with a lot of resolve. His mission is to maximize the team’s potential and best prepare them to face their biggest challenges ahead.
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