The moment the Lakers have been looking forward to and prioritizing over the last half of the year has come to fruition.
The franchise and Luka Doncic came to an agreement on a contract extension Saturday – the first day Doncic was eligible to extend his deal after being traded to the Lakers on Feb. 1.
Doncic’s extension, which was first reported by ESPN via Bill Duffy, Doncic’s agent, is for three years and $165 million, with a player option for 2028-29.
The 26-year-old Slovenian star has a $45.9 million salary for the 2025-26 season. His $48.9 million player option for 2026-27 will be replaced with a $51 million salary, followed by $55.1 million in 2027-28 and $59.2 million in his player-option year.
The Lakers acquired Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks in a stunning trade that sent 10-time All-Star big man Anthony Davis to Doncic’s former team.
After being sidelined for his first week with the Lakers because of a strained left calf he suffered Dec. 25 while playing for the Mavericks, Doncic made his debut for the franchise in a Feb. 10 home win over the Utah Jazz. He averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 1.6 steals in 28 regular-season games with the Lakers before the team was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Doncic’s contract extension with the Lakers further solidifies him as the face of the franchise. And actions from both sides suggested that a contract extension was looming.
The franchise has made Doncic the center of its short- and long-term plans since February. Even while making offseason roster upgrades with the additions of Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia, the Lakers have maintained their financial flexibility for the next couple of offseasons with the hope of building the ideal roster around Doncic.
Doncic has also been involved in the Lakers’ roster moves, helping recruit Ayton and Smart to the franchise after offseason buyouts with their previous teams.
Doncic is in the midst of a weeklong Jordan Brand tour that included stops in New York and Chicago, and concludes in Los Angeles on Sunday before he returns to Europe to continue preparations for the upcoming EuroBasket tournament.
Everything Doncic has said about his brief Lakers experience suggests that he plans to be with the franchise for the long haul.
When asked during an interview that was recorded during the season and released in July what he hopes to be known for in Los Angeles, Doncic responded: “The guy that brought championships to the city, for sure.”
And the Lakers are expecting Doncic, who has been showing off an improved physique this summer, to be around for a while.