The Los Angeles Lakers have secured their superstar of the future.
Luka Doncic has signed a three-year, $165-million contract extension with the Lakers, the Slovenian guard announced on his social media Saturday.
The deal reportedly includes a third-year player option.
“Excited to keep working to bring championships to LA and make Laker Nation proud,” Doncic wrote on social media. “Grateful to the Lakers, my teammates and all the fans who’ve shown so much love since day one. This is just the beginning.”
The 26-year-old averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists during his first half-season in Los Angeles, in line with his career averages of 28.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.2 assists.
The Lakers and Dallas Mavericks shocked the basketball world with the blockbuster trade of Doncic to the Lakers for a package revolving around big man Anthony Davis on Feb. 2. It was the first time in league history that two reigning All-NBA players were traded for each other mid-season.
The Mavericks also received Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick while Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris joined Doncic in Los Angeles.
The trade cost Doncic the opportunity to sign a five-year supermax contract extension this summer that could have been worth up to $345 million. He led the Mavericks to an NBA Finals appearance in the 2024 playoffs.
With the news of the deal, Doncic also shared that he will be making a new charitable venture to assist young athletes around the world.
“I’m also committing $5 million to help 77 young athletes around the world chase their dreams, just like I did,” Doncic wrote on X. “Basketball gave me everything, and I’m lucky to be able to give back and help the next generation.”
During his six full seasons in Dallas, Doncic accumulated an astonishing list of accolades to start his career, including a Rookie of the Year award, five straight first-team All-NBA honours and All-Star Game appearances, and a scoring title in the 2023-24 season in which he also finished as an MVP finalist.
However, Doncic did not earn any recognition last season, as he played only 50 games, well below the new 65-game cutoff for award eligibility instituted by the most recent collective bargaining agreement.
The six-foot-six combo guard struggled with various leg injuries to his calf, ankle, knee and quad throughout the season.
Doncic’s extensive regimen of off-season conditioning work has also been well-documented after the Mavericks’ questions about his physical commitment to the sport reportedly played a role in his shocking departure from Dallas.
Four-time MVP and champion LeBron James opted into his $52.6-million player option on June 29 and will form a formidable duo with “Luka Magic” in his age-41 season.
–With files from The Associated Press
