The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly stressed over Luka Dončić’s contract situation

The Los Angeles Lakers’ management and fans can breathe a sigh of relief after Klutch Sports CEO and longtime agent Rich Paul confirmed to ESPN that LeBron James will exercise his $52.6 million player option for the 2025–26 NBA season.

This move ensures that James will make history by becoming the first player in NBA history to play 23 seasons, surpassing the previous record of 22 held by Vince Carter. At 40 years old, James is currently tied with Carter for the most seasons played.

However, NBA insider Brian Windhorst recently revealed that the Lakers’ front office is feeling pressure over the ongoing contract situation involving Luka Dončić. While Dončić was previously eligible for a $345.3 million supermax extension with the Dallas Mavericks, he reportedly took a significant pay cut to facilitate a move to Los Angeles. Now with the Lakers, Dončić is eligible for a four-year, $229 million extension—yet uncertainty looms over whether he’ll accept it or push for more flexibility down the line.

Here are the contract options for Luka.

Despite the super max extension off the table, Doncic should actually make more in the long run.

Important to note that if Doncic does not sign an extension in August, the financial playing field in what the Lakers can offer and a team… pic.twitter.com/wMJRHWY9pH

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) February 2, 2025

“There are three max contracts NBA superstars can sign,” Windhorst explained during an appearance on ESPN’s NBA Today. “One is worth 25 percent of the cap, another 30 percent, and the top tier is 35 percent, depending on years of service. The first one is what I call the ‘fun max’—everyone takes it when it’s offered. Then there’s the ‘stress max,’ which applies to second max contracts. This is where things get tricky—players sometimes leave, or teams start to question their value. That’s where we are with Luka. This is a ‘stress max.’”

“If Dončić signs it, it will be a huge relief for the Lakers,” Windhorst continued. “They can focus on roster building over the next few seasons instead of worrying about 2026. But if he doesn’t sign it, he could become a free agent next summer—and there are already more than 10 teams projected to have cap space. That would open the door for major moves by other franchises, all aimed at chasing Luka. Every minor issue with the Lakers would be viewed through the lens of his contract status.”

Windhorst also cautioned fans not to expect immediate news when Dončić becomes eligible to sign his extension on August 2. “He’s playing for the Slovenian national team this summer, so don’t panic if you don’t hear anything about his contract until September,” he said.

There’s no doubt that the 25-year-old has quickly become the face of the Lakers’ franchise as LeBron approaches the twilight of his career. Reports suggest that if Dončić opts for a short-term extension and declines the player option on his current deal next season, he could become eligible for a record-setting $406 million extension in 2028.

Since joining the Lakers midseason, Dončić has been sensational, averaging 28.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game across 33 appearances. He’ll now aim to carry that momentum into the summer as he represents Slovenia at the 2025 EuroBasket tournament.

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