NBA Trade Report: Luka Dončić signs a three-year, $165 million contract extension with the Lakers

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 releasing a statement, calling it a “monumental moment.”

“Today is a monumental moment for our franchise. Luka Dončić’s future is with the Los Angeles Lakers. Luka is one of the game’s most transcendent players, and his on-court dominance and passion are without compare,” Pelinka said.

The Slovenian took to the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) to express his appreciation to his teammates and fans.

“I just signed my extension with the Lakers. 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 have shown so much love since day one. This is just the beginning,” Dončić posted.

I just signed my extension with the Lakers. 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. pic.twitter.com/PrTfTxxlpU

— Luka Doncic (@luka7doncic) August 2, 2025

The Lakers acquired Dončić in a stunning mid-season trade from the Dallas Mavericks, with Anthony Davis going the other way. In his limited time in Los Angeles, he quickly established himself as their 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, though 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 recoup the max money he lost after being traded by the Mavericks. Notably, he had a player option for the 2026–27 season under his previous contract.

“Being a Laker is an honor, and I wanted to be here. When you look up there, you see so many great names and what they’ve achieved. I want to be up there too one day. It’s an honor playing for this organization. Many, many great players have played here, so obviously, I want to add one more up there. That’s what we’re working for,” Dončić said.

“Honestly, I think we have a great team. We have what we need to compete for the championship. I’ll bring whatever I can and try to win every game, no matter what. We’ve got some great new guys on the team, so you know we’re going for it,” he added.

The Slovenian is 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 that includes intermittent fasting and high protein intake.

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