Thursday marked an important moment for Los Angeles Lakers fans. The organization made two significant announcements that signaled its unwavering commitment to championship aspirations.
During a press conference at the Lakers’ training facility, the president of basketball operations, Rob Pelinka, revealed that second-year head coach JJ Redick has received a contract extension, and it was built on his original four-year deal worth $32 million signed ahead of the 2024-25 season.
But beyond the administrative formalities, Redick delivered news that has the Lakers community buzzing with renewed optimism.
JJ Redick Has Revealed the Lakers’ Players’ Mindset for the Next Season
During Thursday’s press conference, Redick appeared genuinely pleased with the work ethic his roster has demonstrated throughout the summer months. He revealed that the team’s primary focus has been achieving what he calls “championship shape” both physically and mentally.
“We’ve asked all our guys to be in championship shape. And not starting on Tuesday. And so, the commitment level across the board from our team has been very high this summer. We’ve had organized workouts.”
“The guys have played pickup, really every day. We’ve added conditioning at the end. They’ve all been committed to it. I think for me, that’s probably been the biggest thing. It’s not a basketball thing that he can or cannot do. It’s just all of us being in elite shape,” said Redick during the press conference.
Perhaps no player has embodied that mindset more than Luka Dončić. Just last month, the Slovenian superstar signed a three-year, $165 million maximum extension with the Lakers, which included a player option for the 2028 season.
The contract was big news, but the real surprise came from Dončić’s transformation off the court.
When Los Angeles acquired him from the Dallas Mavericks last season, there were questions about his commitment to conditioning. But this summer, fans were stunned when Dončić appeared on the cover of “Men’s Health” magazine looking like a completely different player.
He had dropped significant weight from his 230-pound frame and looked sharper and more focused. In a separate interview on the “TODAY show,” Dončić even revealed that he and his trainers took an unconventional approach by experimenting with new workouts and testing cross-training methods. He even stepped away from basketball entirely for a stretch to focus on other sports.
“I would say me and my team just tried some new things. Different food, different practices. I actually gave up playing basketball for one month, which I never did in my life, so it was kind of challenging, but it was good,” said Dončić during the interview.
The results have already been shown. At the 2025 FIBA EuroBasket tournament, Dončić looked unstoppable, averaging 34.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game. Those numbers hint at the kind of championship-caliber season he could deliver for the Lakers in 2025–26.
The transformation extends beyond just the team’s marquee acquisition. New offseason additions like center Deandre Ayton, brought in to address the Lakers’ longtime void in the middle, and veteran guard Marcus Smart have both been visible participants in the team’s intensive training regimen.
Marcus and DA dialed in 💪 pic.twitter.com/NIklYMBLK4
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) September 25, 2025
The urgency for a bigger push is undeniable, given that Los Angeles suffered a first-round playoff exit last season to Minnesota. With Redick’s extension and Dončić’s transformation, the Lakers are sending a clear message that this upcoming season won’t be about settling but about contending.
