Luka Doncic agrees to a contract extension through 2028 with the Lakers, committing to his new team
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers signed Luka Doncic to a three-year contract extension worth $165 million, solidifying the Slovenian guard as the franchise’s centerpiece six months after acquiring him from the Dallas Mavericks in a blockbuster trade, people with knowledge of the deal’s terms confirmed Saturday.
The long-anticipated pact, which runs through the 2028-29 season and includes a player option on the final season, followed a busy week for Doncic, who touted his slimmed-down physique in a “Men’s Health” cover story and NBC’s “The Today Show” while also attending promotional events for his sneakers in New York City and Chicago.
“This is an amazing organization, and I truly believe in what we’re building together,” Doncic said in a statement announcing the extension. “I’m going to keep working as hard as I can to bring another championship to Los Angeles and to make Laker Nation proud. This is just the beginning. I’m excited for what’s ahead and to keep building something special with this team.”
Doncic, 26, landed with the Lakers in February after spending the first six-plus seasons of his NBA career with the Mavericks. While the five-time all-star partnered with LeBron James to help Los Angeles claim the Western Conference’s No. 3 seed in the playoffs with a 50-32 record, the Lakers were eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round.
In the wake of that defeat, Lakers Coach JJ Redick said his team must “get in championship shape” to make deeper playoff runs. Doncic, who faced questions about his weight and conditioning in Dallas, said in April he was “exhausted” by the whirlwind season. Doncic told Men’s Health in July that he had spent a month away from the court this offseason to recover from the strenuous campaign and strengthen his body, noting that “my whole body looks better” as he prepares to lead Slovenia in the EuroBasket tournament later this month.
Before being traded to the Lakers, Doncic was on track to be eligible for a five-year, $345 million extension with the Mavericks. However, Dallas opted to swap Doncic for center Anthony Davis, guard Max Christie and a first-round pick rather than reach a long-term agreement with a fan favorite who had led the Mavericks to the 2024 NBA Finals.
Facing significant criticism for the trade, Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison explained his rationale by repeatedly saying “defense wins championships.” Multiple reports indicated that Dallas, which fell out of the playoff picture without Doncic, was concerned about his weight and injury issues, which included a calf strain he suffered last Christmas.
The Mavericks “probably saw” the Men’s Health cover, Doncic said during an interview with the YES Network this week. “I don’t have to worry about that.”
The Lakers’ willingness to extend Doncic signals their faith in his efforts and their plans to position him as the eventual superstar heir to the 40-year-old James. Doncic’s arrival in Los Angeles sparked a wave of excitement this spring, and the showy playmaker finished the season ranked No. 1 leaguewide in jersey sales.
Doncic’s extension is the first major move for the Lakers since longtime owner Jeanie Buss agreed to sell a majority stake of the glamour franchise to Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter in June at a $10 billion valuation. If Doncic were to opt out of this contract following his 10th NBA season in 2028, he would be eligible to sign a five-year contract with the Lakers projected to top $400 million.
“Luka Doncic’s future is with the Los Angeles Lakers,” Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka said in a statement. “From the moment Luka became a Laker, there was an immediate connection and admiration between Luka and our fan base. You can feel it in your spirit when you attend a Lakers game. … Luka will lead our franchise to pursue future championships, a goal that will forever define the Lakers.”
Earlier this summer, James picked up his $52.6 million option for next season after the Lakers did not offer the four-time MVP an extension. Though James is set to become the first player in NBA history to play in his 23rd season this fall, he hasn’t yet given a firm indication about his plans or retirement timeline.
With Doncic secured on a long-term deal and James on track to be an unrestricted free agent next summer, the Lakers have positioned themselves to have greater flexibility to rework their roster around Doncic in the coming years.
“We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future,” said Rich Paul, James’s agent, in a June statement to ESPN, which has prompted weeks of speculation about James’s future with the Lakers. “We do want to evaluate what’s best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career.”
Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game last season, but the Lakers came up short in the playoffs, in part because of their limited center options and lack of depth following their midseason shake-up.
The Lakers sought to fill some of their roster holes by signing center Deandre Ayton, guard Marcus Smart and forward Jake LaRavia this summer. Despite losing forward Dorian Finney-Smith to the Houston Rockets in free agency, Los Angeles is expected to enter next season as one of the top threats to the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference.