El Segundo, California – While LeBron James enters his eighth season with the Los Angeles Lakers during a contractual year, the future of coach JJ Redick with the team is much clearer after being signed for an extension.
The absence of a long-term pact between Lakers and the 40-year-old James, who, in June, picked up the $ 52.6 million option for the 2025-26 season, fueled speculation on the future of the superstar with the team that opens the training camp next week.
Rob Pelinka, president of basketball operations and managing director, insisted on Thursday that the Lakers hope to stay in the LeBron sector as long as the quadruple champion wanted to be with them.
“The first thing we want to do in terms of LeBron and his future is to give him absolute respect to choose his story with his family in terms of how many years he will continue to play,” said Pelinka during his opening press conference. “He deserved well.”
Pelinka said Lakers have built a “very competitive and solid team” with which to win both James and Luka Doncic.
The director general said that he would recover from James, who entered a 23rd record season, on the questions on how long he intended to play before retiring. The team’s media day is scheduled for Monday.
We then asked Pelinka if the Lakers would be interested in re-Signal James in the summer of 2026, if he wanted to extend his career.
“We would like LeBron’s story to be, he withdraws a laker,” said Pelinka, echoing a feeling that he previously shared. “It would be a positive story.”
Although James’ future remains in flow, Pelinka announced the team’s commitment to Redick, his second -year coach who signed a four -year contract in June 2024. Although New Deal’s terms were not announced, sources have declared to Shams Charania d’Espn that it was a multi -year extension.
“Just to clearly indicate that he is the basketball leader in terms of our training and our performance on the field,” said Pelinka about the motivation to extend Redick after winning 50 games and obtained the head of the West Conference in his first season as a coach.
Pelinka said that the decision came to “confidence and belief” in the former NBA 15-year-old veteran, who joined Lakers without previous experience of head coach.
“We think he is a special coach with a special voice that really helps us define the culture of Lakers excellence,” said Pelinka. “We just wanted to make a clear declaration that this is what we believe, what we are going to support and in which our players will mold when we continue to develop identity. I think that having long -term planning is useful because we build this team and move forward.”
Redick expressed his gratitude to Pelinka, the Lakers, the acting governor Jeanie Buss and the owner of the new Mark Walter Lakers for the occasion.
“It is not lost for me, this kind of scarcity of a first coach who obtained an extension,” said Redick on Thursday. “I recognize how lucky I am to be in an organization that supports me in this way.”
Redick spoke of connecting with James and Dononic during the summer and expressed his confidence in the season.
“”[James is] In a formidable place mentally and knowing that he will give us his best absolute, “said Redick.” … I expect the best version of Luka, and this is my work as a coach to bring it out daily. “”
Redick offered less clarity on the players who will surround the star tandem, without announcement on the rest of his starters as he did a year ago.
“It is not so important to me,” said Redick when he asked beginners. “I did not spend a ton of time thinking about it. We certainly have a certain number of players – seven or eight start -up players in the NBA. I know: I said that last year. And this starting program started eight games together to start the season, and we started 24 alignments throughout the year.
“Do not spend too much time bumping my head against the wall before having a practice.”
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