EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers know head coach JJ Redick will be a part of their future going forward, and plan to give superstar forward LeBron James every chance to do the same.

General manager Rob Pelinka said Redick received a contract extension this summer after the 41-year-old completed his first season leading the Lakers, who went 50-32 to finish third in the Western Conference and lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games in a first-round playoff series.

Pelinka snuck the announcement into his opening statement of a joint press conference with Redick on Thursday before training camp opens next week.

“It’s not lost on me, the sort of rarity of a first-time head coach getting an extension,” Redick said. “Like, I recognize how fortunate I am to be with an o

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