EL SEGUNDO >> Perry Huang’s friendship with JJ Reddick, the new Los Angeles Lakers head coach, evolved in 2018 when Huang was an assistant coach with the New Orleans Pelicans G-League franchise.

Reddick, who was still in the NBA with the Pelicans at the time as a shooting guard, grew to respect Huang, a Monterey High grad, for his knowledge of the game and coaching philosophies.

“During training camp, both teams trained together,” Huang remembered. “I used to rebound for JJ. We had mutual connections in the game.”

So when Reddick got the Lakers head coaching job last summer, he began seeking coaches for his staff, as well as the Lakers’ South Bay G-League team in El Segundo.

What began as a general interview with the Lakers brass during dinner at Sinatra’s in Las Vegas during the Olympics turned into an offer Huang couldn’t refuse.

The 2005 Monterey High graduate and one-time Monterey Peninsula College assistant has accepted a position as an assistant coach with the Lakers’ G-League franchise.

“It was a pretty surreal moment when I walked in the training center yesterday and JJ dabbed me up,” Huang said. “Everyone was looking at me like ‘how do you know JJ?’”

Huang’s arrival comes after he completed his seventh season as an assistant coach with the WNBA’s Seattle Storm, which was eliminated in the playoffs last week.

“Where Perry has really come along is with his player development,” said MPC coach Blake Spiering, who had Huang on his staff for three years. “That’s what he has always been passionate about. He’s been a student of the game his entire career.”

Up until last season, the 37-year-old Huang was doing double duty, coaching the Storm and in the G-League with the Warriors, Suns and later Pelicans.

“For as much experience as I have, I’m not that well known in the NBA circles,” Huang said. “I have to get them to know and understand who I am. JJ knows and that’s all that matters.”

As part of the agreement, Huang will relinquish his role with the Storm, where he was a part of two WNBA titles teams.

“It was extremely difficult to leave Seattle,” Huang said. “In my mind, it’s a risk. The WNBA is exploding. I wanted to be a part of that. But coaching in the NBA is my dream.”

Huang will be handling a lot of responsibilities for the Lakers organization, as he will be asked to be part of the franchise’s pre-draft workouts and join them in the Summer League.

“The Lakers are a unique organization,” Huang said. “The aura of it. There are so many working parts. It’s been a whirlwind week. Everything is happening so fast.”

Huang will spend the entire training camp working with Reddick and his staff, and players from both the Lakers and their G-League affiliate.

Both teams train at the UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo. It’s also where South Bay plays its home games.

“Everyone is together,” said Huang, who has been an assistant in the G League or the WNBA for 11 years. “I got to watch LeBron live. It’s another element to this.”

The likelihood is Huang will be spending a lot of time with James’ son Bronny, who is expected to spend time in the G-League as he develops his game.

“A huge part of our job will be to help develop Bronny and make him into a full-fledged NBA player,” Huang said. “As it is with all the players down in the G-League.”

Huang, who got his professional start in the G-League a decade ago in Santa Cruz, took the winter off last year after the birth of his son.

“This feels very different,” Huang said. “Being in a building where there is so much energy. My office is down the hall. We have our own chef. I’ve never experienced this before. This is as close as I have felt to being a part of an NBA staff.”

Which is Huang’s ultimate goal — has been since his playing days at Fresno Pacific ended 14 years ago, followed by three years at MPC as an assistant before he joined the Santa Cruz Warriors 11 years ago.

“From what I have observed, and in our conversations, Perry’s bedside demeanor is excellent,” Spiering said. “His confidence in talking to players is excellent. He wants to teach basketball, come up with different schemes. He’s a great communicator.”

Huang is expected to be in charge of the defense. He’s also expected to have a hand in working with players who will be playing for both the Lakers and their G-League team during the season

“I will have players that I will work with, including two-way players,” Huang said. “Our biggest point of emphasis is developing those at the ladder end of the roster into rotational guys for the Lakers.”

Huang was originally asked to interview for the South Bay head coaching position, before accepting an assistant position.

“I’m not gung-ho about being a head coach,” Huang said. “But I think I am prepared to be a head coach. Hopefully the next step for me will be to be on an NBA staff. This year will give me the confidence to do that.”

Huang has worked with some of the WNBA’s greatest players in Seattle, including Sue Bird, Brianna Stewart and Skyler Diggins.

“The WNBA is a small community with 12 teams,” Huang said. “You don’t necessarily get that camaraderie in the NBA. But I’ve built enough good will in the ‘W’ to where I could return someday. I’m just beyond excited for this opportunity.”