ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith shocked by Luka Dončić’s $165 million Lakers deal

The Los Angeles Lakers received a major boost on Sunday, August 3 (Philippine Standard Time), after confirming that they had agreed to a three-year, $165 million contract extension with Luka Dončić, which includes a player option in 2028.

The Lakers’ front office announced the extension across various social media channels, with franchise president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka calling it a “monumental moment” in an official statement.

However, many were surprised that Dončić chose to forego a fourth year on his contract with the Lakers, especially considering he could have earned significantly more if his agent, Bill Duffy, had pursued a four-year deal from the franchise.

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, known for his blunt commentary on First Take, shared his views on the Slovenian star’s new contract, arguing that Dončić is worth much more and that the Lakers’ front office would have agreed to a longer, more lucrative deal if Dončić had asked—given that the team is clearly building its future around him.

“Luka Dončić is the future. He doesn’t have a year or two left like LeBron James. He’s got a decade left, if not more. So you have to make that investment. I’m shocked that he agreed to just three years. He was eligible for four years, $229 million. Next year, if he waited to sign, he would’ve gotten $296 million,” Smith said.

.@stephenasmith doesn’t feel the league needs to be “any more scared than they already are” of Luka Dončić 👀

“There’s a difference between getting in shape in the offseason and staying in shape during the season.” pic.twitter.com/Taf7RztJ0Z

— First Take (@FirstTake) July 29, 2025

It’s worth noting that San Antonio Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox agreed to a four-year, $229 million maximum contract extension just hours after Dončić put pen to paper. However, it appears that Dončić and Duffy have a long-term plan in motion. The 26-year-old’s final year under his new deal is the 2028–29 season and includes a player option—making him eligible to sign a five-year, $417 million contract with the Lakers if he declines the option.

“Bottom line: by signing a three-year deal, he’s now in a position to earn exponentially more in just a couple of years. They did the right thing,” Smith added.

The Lakers acquired Dončić in a stunning mid-season trade from the Dallas Mavericks, sending Anthony Davis the other way. In his limited time with Los Angeles, Dončić quickly established himself as the team’s most important player alongside LeBron James, revitalizing their season and propelling them to third place in the NBA Western Conference standings. The 26-year-old averaged 28.2 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.7 rebounds per game, although he couldn’t help the Lakers get past the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs.

The deal keeps Dončić in Los Angeles through 2028, after which he will be eligible for a five-year extension that could allow him to recover the max money he missed out on following his trade from Dallas. Notably, under his previous contract, Dončić had a player option for the 2026–27 season.

The Slovenian is now focused on becoming the best version of himself for the upcoming 2025–26 season, having spent the past two months of the offseason in Croatia working on his health and conditioning. A recent article in Men’s Health, published on Monday, July 28, included photos of a much slimmer and fitter Dončić. The 26-year-old has adopted a gluten-free, low-sugar diet, incorporating intermittent fasting and high protein intake.

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