By Kim Daniel Rubinos

Copyright sportskeeda

The LA Lakers have signed coach JJ Redick to a contract extension after just one season with the team. Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka said Thursday that they have extended Redick’s contract ahead of the 2025-26 season.Pelinka spoke to reporters in a joint press conference with Redick at the UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, California.Redick is still under contract for three more seasons. In June 2024, he signed a four-year deal worth $32 million. The length of Redick’s extension was not disclosed at the press conference.In his debut season as a coach, JJ Redick led the Lakers to a 50-32 record and the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. Although LA was eliminated in the first round, Pelinka said they wanted Redick to be the team’s “basketball leader” for the future.”Confidence and belief,” Pelinka said on the reason for Redick’s extension. “We think he’s a special coach with a special voice that’s really helping us to continue to define the culture of Lakers excellence.”I just wanted to make a clear statement that this is what we believe in, what we’re gonna lean into, and what our players are going to mold into as we continue to develop the identity. Having long-term planning is helpful as we build this team going forward.”The Lakers will begin training camp on Monday and will open the 2025-26 season on Oct. 21 against Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors.JJ Redick on contract extension: “I recognize how fortunate I am”In the same media conference on Thursday, LA Lakers coach JJ Redick was asked about his reaction to the team expressing confidence in him. The former player thanked the Lakers’ brass, including Rob Pelinka, new owner Mark Walter and team governor Jennie Buss.”Rob and I have a lot of the same philosophies in life, and one of the words we talk about a lot is gratitude,” Redick said. “And so it starts with a high level of gratitude to the Lakers, to Mark, Jeanie and Rob for having that confidence in me. And it’s not lost on me, the rarity of a first-time head coach getting an extension.”I recognize how fortunate I am to be with an organization that supports me that way.”JJ Redick played the final season of his 15-year career with the Dallas Mavericks in 2020-21. He was teammates with five-time All-Star Luka Doncic, whom he now coaches with the Lakers.Doncic was acquired by LA in a blockbuster trade last season and signed a three-year, $165 million contract extension with the franchise last month.