Luka Doncic signs millionaire extension with Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic has agreed to a three-year, $165 million contract extension, with a player option in 2028. This was confirmed by his agent, Bill Duffy of WME Basketball.
This new agreement is crucial, as it prevents Doncic from entering free agency next summer, replacing his player option for the 2026-27 season with this new contract.
Doncic could opt out of the contract in 2028 and sign a new deal for 35% of the salary cap, which is projected at five years and 417 million dollars. In this way, Doncic would recover all the money lost when he was traded by the Dallas Mavericks, with whom he could have signed a supermax extension of five years and 315 million dollars this summer.
The Lakers acquired Doncic from the Mavericks six months ago, in one of the most surprising trades in the history of professional sports, in exchange for Anthony Davis. Under the leadership of governor Jeanie Buss, president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka and new owner Mark Walter, the Lakers have established a close relationship with Doncic, his brand director and commercial manager Lara Beth Seager, and Duffy.
Last season, Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 7.7 assists with the Mavericks and the Lakers in 50 games, his fewest games in his career. He led the Lakers in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and three-pointers per game after debuting with the team on February 10.
Doncic, a five-time All-NBA first team selection, has also made his presence felt off the court. He has played a significant role in the Lakers’ acquisitions of Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart during the offseason, maintaining a good relationship with Ayton, the first pick in his draft class, and recruiting Smart with multiple calls while he was abroad for family and basketball commitments.
In Monday’s edition of Men’s Health, Doncic also detailed the significant changes in his body and physical condition.
Doncic’s ability to maintain his body was a key point while he was with the Mavericks, and Lakers coach JJ Redick emphasized in his latest media briefing that players needed to “get into championship shape.”
Doncic has played individually at a championship level in the postseason. He became the first player in NBA history to lead the playoffs in points, rebounds, assists, and steals during the Mavericks’ run to the 2024 Finals, which ended in a loss to the Boston Celtics.
In his first postseason with the Lakers, Doncic became the fifth player in franchise history to average 30 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in a series. However, Los Angeles was eliminated in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games.
