Luka Doncic, the celebrated Los Angeles Lakers standout, has secured a significant three-year, $165 million maximum contract extension. This deal includes a player option for the 2028 season, as confirmed by his agent, Bill Duffy of WME Basketball.
This crucial agreement ensures Doncic remains with the Lakers, preventing him from entering free agency next summer and superseding his previous player option for the 2026-27 season.
Should Doncic choose to exercise his 2028 player option, he would be eligible to sign a new five-year contract worth an estimated $417 million, representing 35% of the projected salary cap. This potential future deal would compensate him for the financial opportunities foregone when he was traded from the Dallas Mavericks, where he could have signed a five-year, $315 million supermax extension this past summer.
The Lakers officially announced the extension on Saturday, though specific financial details were not initially disclosed by the organization.
In a statement following the signing, Doncic expressed his profound gratitude: “I am incredibly thankful to the Lakers organization, my teammates, and the fans for their immense support and kindness towards my family and me from day one. This is a remarkable organization, and I genuinely believe in the foundation we are laying together. I am committed to working tirelessly to bring another championship to Los Angeles and to make Laker Nation proud.” He added, “This is merely the start. I am eager for what lies ahead and to continue forging something extraordinary with this team.”
Doncic joined the Lakers six months prior in a blockbuster trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks, a move widely regarded as one of the most surprising in professional sports history. Under the leadership of Governor Jeanie Buss, President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka, and new owner Mark Walter, the Lakers have successfully cultivated a strong relationship with Doncic, along with his chief brand officer and business manager Lara Beth Seager, and agent Bill Duffy.
Rob Pelinka, the Lakers` President of Basketball Operations, lauded Doncic as “one of the game`s most transcendent players” during the extension announcement. Pelinka further elaborated, “Luka is a formidable competitor on the court, complementing his elite skills with remarkable generosity and commitment to the community. Fundamentally, Luka is poised to lead our franchise in its pursuit of future championships, an ambition that will always characterize the Lakers.”
Last season, in a career-low 50 games spanning his time with both the Mavericks and the Lakers, Doncic maintained impressive averages of 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 7.7 assists. Following his Lakers debut on February 10th, he quickly emerged as the team leader in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and three-pointers per game.
Beyond his five first-team All-NBA selections, Doncic`s influence extends significantly off the court within the franchise. He was instrumental in the Lakers` recent offseason acquisitions of Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart. Doncic shares a strong bond with Ayton, who was the No. 1 overall pick in their draft class, and actively recruited Smart through numerous calls while managing his own international family and basketball engagements.
In a recent edition of Men`s Health magazine, Doncic elaborated on the substantial transformations he has undergone in his physical conditioning and overall body composition.
Throughout his tenure with the Mavericks, Doncic`s physical upkeep had been a recurring concern. Lakers coach JJ Redick publicly emphasized the necessity for players to achieve “championship shape” in his final media appearance.
Individually, Doncic has consistently demonstrated championship-caliber play in the postseason. During the Mavericks` 2024 journey to the NBA Finals, where they ultimately fell to the Boston Celtics, he made history as the first player ever to lead the playoffs in points, rebounds, assists, and steals. In his inaugural playoff appearance with the Lakers, Doncic joined an elite group as only the fifth player in franchise history to average at least 30 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in a single series. Despite his efforts, Los Angeles was eliminated in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves in a five-game series.