Lakers extend coach JJ Redick’s contract after impressive first season
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick has received a contract extension after guiding the team to a 50-32 record and the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference last season.
While the Lakers didn’t announce the exact terms, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania that it’s a multi-year extension. Redick had originally signed a four-year, $32 million deal with the team in June 2024.
“Just to make it clear that he’s the basketball leader in terms of our coaching and on-court performance,” general manager Rob Pelinka explained when announcing the extension.
The move shows remarkable confidence in Redick, who had no previous coaching experience before taking the Lakers job.
Pelinka said the decision came down to “confidence and belief” in the former NBA guard, despite some critics questioning his hiring.
Redick, 41, played 15 seasons in the NBA with six different teams before retiring after the 2020-21 season. He then worked as an ESPN analyst before jumping into coaching with the Lakers.
“We think he’s a special coach with a special voice that’s really helping us define the culture of Lakers excellence,” Pelinka said.
The GM believes the extension provides stability for the organization’s future plans.
“We just wanted to make a clear statement that this is what we believe in, what we’re going to lean into and what our players are going to mold into as we continue to develop the identity. I think having long-term planning is helpful as we build this team and go forward.”
Lakers secure Doncic while LeBron’s future remains uncertain
Redick’s extension comes after superstar Luka Doncic signed a massive three-year, $165 million maximum contract extension that runs through 2028, with a player option for the 2029-30 season.
According to Bobby Marks, Doncic could potentially opt out in 2028 and sign a new deal worth 35% of the salary cap – projecting to a staggering five years and $417 million.
This strategic move would allow Doncic to recover all the money he lost when traded by the Dallas Mavericks, where he had been eligible for a five-year, $315 million supermax extension this summer.
Meanwhile, LeBron James exercised his $52.62 million player option for 2025-26, part of the two-year, $101.36 million contract he signed last July.
Since LeBron is on an expiring deal, his long-term future with the Purple and Gold remains up in the air.
Redick expressed his appreciation to the Lakers’ leadership for their trust in him to coach stars like Doncic and James.
“It’s not lost on me, this sort of rarity of a first-time head coach getting an extension,” Redick said Thursday. “I recognize how fortunate I am to be in an organization that supports me in that way.”
The extension clearly shows the Lakers’ belief in Redick’s coaching abilities as they look to build a championship contender around their superstar duo.
