EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — The Los Angeles Lakers know head coach JJ Redick can be part of their future going ahead, and plan to offer famous person ahead LeBron James each probability to do the identical
Normal supervisor Rob Pelinka mentioned Redick obtained a contract extension this summer time after the 41-year-old accomplished his first season main the Lakers, who went 50-32 to complete third within the Western Convention and misplaced to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 5 video games in a first-round playoff collection.
Pelinka snuck the announcement into his opening assertion of a joint press convention with Redick on Thursday earlier than coaching camp opens subsequent week.
“It’s not misplaced on me, the kind of rarity of a first-time head coach getting an extension,” Redick mentioned. “Like, I acknowledge how lucky I’m to be with a corporation that helps me that method.”
Getting Redick to signal a brand new deal after famous person level guard Luka Doncic agreed to a three-year, $165 million most contract extension by way of 2028 in August leaves James because the final piece of the Lakers’ headlining trio with out certainty after this season.
James, 40, goes into his unprecedented twenty third skilled marketing campaign after choosing up his $52.6 million participant choice in June. What occurs after the upcoming season is unsure, however Pelinka mentioned that if James needs to proceed taking part in, the Lakers need him to do it for them.
“The very first thing we need to do by way of LeBron and his future is simply give him absolutely the respect to decide on his story along with his household by way of what number of years he’s going to proceed to play,” Pelinka mentioned. “He’s earned that proper, and he’s the most effective one to speak about that by way of what number of years he’d prefer to play. … We might love if LeBron’s story could be to retire as a Laker.”
Redick met twice with James in the course of the summer time, as soon as within the Hamptons in New York and once more in Los Angeles, and got here away satisfied the seemingly ageless legend is able to go after averaging 24.4 factors, 8.2 assists and seven.8 rebounds final season with the Lakers.
“I got here away from that considering he’s in an incredible spot mentally and know he’s going to offer us his very best,” Redick mentioned.
James’ dedication comes after an offseason the place Doncic was seemingly the main target of the Lakers’ roster building, with the addition of middle DeAndre Ayton on a two-year contract giving the 26-year-old a much-needed companion in pick-and-roll eventualities.
Doncic, who was shockingly dealt to the Lakers in February in one of many greatest and most sudden trades in NBA historical past, spent the offseason working to enhance his bodily health. The early returns on his growth with Slovenia on the EuroBasket match have been spectacular, and Doncic indicated to Redick his dedication to sustaining these modifications is for the lengthy haul.
“I get the sense from speaking to him all summer time, spending time with him, not solely simply right here however on the Backstreet Boys (live performance in Las Vegas) is that that is his life now,” Redick mentioned. “That is his routine. That is only a day by day dedication to the brand new normal that he set for himself. … I anticipate the most effective model of Luka, and it’s my job as a coach to deliver that out each day.”
Doncic is the one participant the Lakers at present have on a confirmed contract previous the 2026-27 season, and there may be important flexibility to make in-season modifications if the staff needs to take action. Pelinka mentioned he would possible maintain off on any such strikes till at the least 20 video games have been performed.
Despite that uncertainty, the Lakers carry their typical sky-high expectations into the season, made all of the extra tantalizing by having a full offseason to determine methods to maximize the Doncic and James partnership.
Redick isn’t shying away from the concept of a championship.
“I feel there’s at all times stress on the Lakers,” he mentioned. “Coming into this constructing day by day, you’re continuously reminded of what Lakers’ excellence is, in order that doesn’t change, for me at the least, 12 months to 12 months.”
