Luka Dončić has signed a three-year, $165 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers, keeping him with the franchise until 2028.
The 26-year-old Slovenian reportedly expressed excitement about the deal, which positions him for a potential five-year, $417 million supermax contract in 2028—one that could recoup the earnings he missed by not signing a similar extension with the Dallas Mavericks.
Dončić, who joined the Lakers in a February trade widely described as one of the most shocking in NBA history, was said to be determined to build something special with his new team.
Despite the Lakers’ first-round playoff exit to Minnesota, he averaged 28.2 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.7 rebounds per game, playing alongside LeBron James.
After signing the extension on 2 August, Dončić reportedly said that this marked only the beginning and that he was excited for what lay ahead.
He had also indicated that, although it was difficult to leave Dallas after seven seasons, he was now enjoying life on the West Coast and wanted to make history in Los Angeles.
He reportedly told journalists, while standing beneath the Lakers’ retired jersey numbers, that many great players had come before him and that he hoped his name would one day join theirs.
With the NBA preseason still months away, Dončić is expected to join Slovenia’s national team preparations for EuroBasket next week.
He is due to take the court on August 8 in a friendly against world champions Germany in Ljubljana.
