Luka Doncic just made his biggest long-term commitment yet to the Los Angeles Lakers, and the implications could reshape the franchise for the next decade. On Friday, the 5x All-NBA guard signed a three-year, $165 million contract extension that keeps him in L.A. through at least 2028 and makes him eligible for a projected five-year, $417 million supermax deal (the richest in NBA history).
The extension not only takes Doncic off the 2025 free-agent market, it also signals a power shift: the Lakers are no longer just LeBron James’ team. They’re Luka’s now. With a player option in Year 3, Doncic controls the timeline for what could eventually be a $582 million career payday in purple and gold. That’s on top of the $152 million he’s already made in his career.
For that kind of money, it’s no surprise that Doncic chose this route, but he’s got more reasons than one to commit his basketball future to the Lakers.
After trading for Luka back in February, the team has been doing everything it can to secure his long-term commitment to the franchise. A 5x All-Star, 5x All-NBA selection, and the NBA’s 2023-24 scoring leader, Doncic had long been on L.A.’s radar — so much so that the Lakers traded superstar Anthony Davis to bring him in. Of course, that deal is completely justified now.
While it was initially reported that Luka would wait until next summer to sign a new deal, he’s now locked in for almost the rest of the decade after leading the team to the third seed in the West last season. For Doncic, it was important to vocalize his loyalty and show the Lakers that he’s fully committed to the cause. Now, despite never asking for a move to Los Angeles, he’s making the most of his situation as the face and leader of the NBA’s most popular franchise.
Luka Sends A Message After Inking Massive New Deal
After the news broke of his latest commitment, Doncic himself made a statement. In a short but heartfelt post on X, Doncic expressed gratitude for the Lakers’ support and excitement for what’s ahead.
“I just signed my extension with the Lakers,” wrote Luka. “Excited to keep working to bring championships to LA and make Laker Nation proud. Grateful to the Lakers, my teammates, and all the fans who’ve shown so much love since day one. This is just the beginning.”
Luka hasn’t signed that supermax contract yet, but it didn’t stop him from committing $5 million to help young athletes around the world achieve their greatest ambitions.
“Today I’m also committing $5 million to help 77 young athletes around the world chase their dreams, just like I did,” Doncic added. “Basketball gave me everything, and I’m lucky to be able to give back and help the next generation.”
With this new deal, Luka Doncic isn’t just securing generational wealth; he’s staking his claim as the face of the Lakers for years to come. The organization has given him the keys, and now the spotlight is his to own. If his commitment off the court matches his production on it, the Lakers may have just locked in the next era of championship contention in Los Angeles.
