Los Angeles Lakers coach Redick hopes James and Dončić will have a full season and win the championship

2025-09-26 00:28

The Los Angeles Lakers have officially confirmed that head coach J.J. Redick has been awarded a contract extension following his first season. The 41-year-old Redick led the Lakers to a 50-32 record last season, good for third place in the Western Conference, but lost to the Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs.

Among the current Los Angeles Lakers Big Three, Luka Dončić signed a three-year, $165 million maximum contract extension in August of this year, ensuring that he will stay with the team until 2028. In contrast, although 40-year-old LeBron James has exercised a player option worth $52.6 million for the new season, his future remains uncertain.

Redick revealed that he met with James twice this summer and was convinced that the legendary star is still in good shape. Last season, James averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds per game. Redick said: "I can feel that he is mentally and physically ready to give his best performance to the team."

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers are actively strengthening around Dončić. The team signed center Deandre Ayton, who will become a key player in Dončić's pick-and-roll system. Since joining the Lakers in a shock trade in February, Dončić has focused on physical training during the offseason and showed significant improvement at the EuroBasket.

Regarding Dončić, Redick praised his dedication: "I communicated with him throughout the summer and went to concerts with him. I can feel that this has become his lifestyle and he sets new goals for himself every day. I look forward to seeing the best of Luka, and as a coach, my job is to inspire him to his best."