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Dave McMenamin
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Whereas LeBron James enters his eighth season with the Los Angeles Lakers in a contract 12 months, coach JJ Redick’s future with the workforce is far more clear after being signed to an extension.
The dearth of a long-term pact between the Lakers and the 40-year-old James, who in June picked up the $52.6 million possibility for the 2025-26 season, has fueled hypothesis concerning the famous person’s future with the workforce set to open coaching camp subsequent week.
Rob Pelinka, president of basketball operations and normal supervisor, insisted Thursday that the Lakers hope to stay within the LeBron enterprise so long as the four-time champion desires to be with them.
“The very first thing we need to do when it comes to LeBron and his future is simply give him absolute respect to decide on his story together with his household when it comes to what number of years he’ll proceed to play,” Pelinka mentioned at his season-opening information convention. “He is earned that proper.”
Pelinka mentioned the Lakers constructed a “actually aggressive, robust workforce” with which to win for each James and Luka Doncic.
The GM mentioned he would defer to James, who’s coming into a record-setting twenty third season, on questions on how for much longer he meant to play earlier than retiring. The workforce’s media day is Monday.
Pelinka was then requested if the Lakers can be fascinated by re-signing James in the summertime of 2026, if he determined at that time he wished to increase his profession.
“We might love if LeBron’s story can be he retired a Laker,” Pelinka mentioned, echoing a sentiment he has shared earlier than. “That may be a optimistic story.”
Whereas James’ future stays in flux, Pelinka introduced the workforce’s dedication to Redick, its second-year coach who signed a four-year deal in June 2024. Although phrases of the brand new deal weren’t introduced, sources advised ESPN’s Shams Charania that it was a multiyear extension.
“Simply to make it clear that he is the basketball chief when it comes to our teaching and on-court efficiency,” Pelinka mentioned of the motivation to increase Redick after he received 50 video games and secured the No. 3 seed within the Western Convention in his first season as coach.
Pelinka mentioned the choice got here all the way down to “confidence and perception” within the former 15-year NBA veteran, who joined the Lakers with out earlier head teaching expertise.
“We expect he is a particular coach with a particular voice that is actually serving to us outline the tradition of Lakers excellence,” Pelinka mentioned. “We simply wished to make a transparent assertion that that is what we consider in, what we will lean into and what our gamers are going to mould into as we proceed to develop the id. I feel having long-term planning is useful as we construct this workforce and go ahead.”
Redick expressed gratitude to Pelinka, Lakers performing governor Jeanie Buss and new Lakers proprietor Mark Walter for the chance.
“It is not misplaced on me, this form of rarity of a first-time head coach getting an extension,” Redick mentioned Thursday. “I acknowledge how lucky I’m to be in a corporation that helps me in that approach.”
Redick spoke about connecting with James and Doncic through the summer time and expressed confidence in each of them coming into the season.
“[James is] in an awesome spot mentally and know he’ll give us his very best,” Redick mentioned. “… I anticipate the very best model of Luka, and it is my job as a coach to convey that out every day.”
Redick provided much less readability on the gamers who will encompass the star tandem, with no announcement about the remainder of his starters the way in which he did a 12 months in the past.
“It is not that vital to me,” Redick mentioned when requested concerning the starters. “I have not spent a ton of time serious about it. We actually have plenty of gamers — seven or eight starter-level gamers within the NBA. I do know this: I did say that final 12 months. And that beginning lineup began eight video games collectively to begin the season and we began 24 lineups all year long.
“Not going to spend an excessive amount of time banging my head in opposition to the wall on that earlier than we’ve got a apply.”
