Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka has received a contract extension through the 2025-26 season.
A person familiar with the deal confirmed Pelinka’s extension to The Associated Press on Saturday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the Lakers have not publicly announced the long-term deal to keep Pelinka, who built a championship-winning roster two years ago.
Pelinka has been in the Lakers’ front office since 2017 after a long career as an NBA player agent, most notably representing Kobe Bryant. Pelinka built his current roster around LeBron James, who opted to sign with the Lakers in 2018, trading high-profile trades that brought Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook to LA.
James and Davis led the Lakers to the franchise’s 17th championship in the Florida bubble in October 2020, but have since endured two consecutive disappointing seasons. After Los Angeles lost in the first round of the 2021 playoffs, the Lakers went 33-49 last season and missed the postseason entirely with James and Davis missing long stretches of their second straight season due to an injury
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Los Angeles Lakers’ Rob Pelinka introduces Darvin Ham as new head coach during a news conference in El Segundo, Calif., on June 6, 2022, at the UCLA Health Training Center.
(Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
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Despite his recent struggles, Jeanie Buss has remained steadfast behind Pelinka, whose close association with Bryant is attractive to the owner and his tradition-bound franchise. Pelinka is now on a contract extension the same length as the deal he gave to first head coach Darvin Ham, who replaced championship-winning coach Frank Vogel this summer.
Los Angeles Lakers GM Rob Pelinka looks on before the game against the Miami Heat during Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Oct. 6, 2020 at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida.
(Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
Pelinka was a bench player at Michigan during the Fab Five era before embarking on a long and successful career as an agent. The Lakers hired him as general manager in 2017 with no previous experience managing a team.
Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka, Russell Westbrook #0 and head coach Frank Vogel pose for a photo during a press conference at Staples Center on August 10, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.
(Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
He worked for Executive Vice President Magic Johnson for two years until Johnson abruptly resigned in April 2019, after which he accused Pelinka of working against him within the organization. Buss promoted Pelinka to vice president of basketball operations in 2020.
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Pelinka’s contract extension was first reported by Yahoo Sports.
