BREAKING: Luka Dončić Inks $165 Million Deal to Remain a Laker, Cementing His Place as Face of the Franchise
Los Angeles, CA – August 2, 2025
The purple and gold era of Luka Dončić is officially locked in.
In a blockbuster move that solidifies the Los Angeles Lakers’ long-term vision, Luka Dončić, the Slovenian superstar and perennial All-NBA performer, has signed a three-year, $165 million maximum contract extension to stay in L.A., agent Bill Duffy of WME Basketball confirmed exclusively to ESPN.
The extension includes a player option in 2028, giving Dončić both security and flexibility — but most notably, it signals a full commitment to the Lakers’ championship chase in the post-LeBron James era.
💰 The Details
Deal: 3 years, $165 million
Average annual value: $55 million
Kicks in: 2026–2027 season
Player option: 2028–2029 season
No-trade clause: Included in the final year, per league sources
🔥 Dončić: A Star in the City of Stars
Since arriving in Los Angeles via a seismic trade with the Dallas Mavericks in 2024, Dončić has thrived in the spotlight. In his first full season in purple and gold, he averaged:
31.3 PPG
9.7 APG
8.5 RPG
50/40/89 shooting splits
4th in MVP voting
He quickly formed a lethal one-two punch with rising star big man Jaylen Carter, leading the Lakers to the Western Conference Finals before falling in six games to the Denver Nuggets.
The Lakers front office, led by GM Rob Pelinka, made re-signing Dončić its top priority, with negotiations described as “smooth, focused, and mutual.”
> “Luka is the Lakers now,” Pelinka said. “He represents the next generation of championship ambition in this city. We’re building around him.”
🎙️ Luka Speaks: “I Love It Here”
In a press conference outside Crypto.com Arena packed with media and fans, Dončić, beaming in a custom-tailored purple suit, made it clear:
> “I love the lights. I love the pressure. I love this city. We’re not done — we’re building something special here.”
He thanked the late Kobe Bryant for being his “forever inspiration” and revealed that part of his decision to stay stemmed from “wanting to win where legends walked.”
🧠 The Bigger Picture
With this deal, the Lakers now have Dončić locked in through his prime years. League insiders say the team is aggressively targeting another elite two-way wing to complement him — with whispers around pending free agent Mikal Bridges and a potential sign-and-trade for Tyler Herro gaining traction.
The extension also sends a message to the league: L.A. is back to being a superteam destination. With elite coaching under Darvin Ham and a deep bench of youth and veterans, the Lakers are built to contend — not just now, but deep into the decade.
🏆 A Legacy in the Making?
Dončić’s stats are already historic — fastest player in NBA history to reach 12,000 points and 3,000 assists before age 27 — but now, his next goal is clear: bring Banner No. 18 to L.A..
> “That’s why I signed,” Dončić said. “To win titles. That’s the only thing that matters here.”
FINAL THOUGHT:
From prodigy in Madrid to MVP candidate in Dallas, and now, franchise cornerstone in Hollywood — Luka Dončić is betting on greatness in gold. And the Lakers? They just locked in the biggest star since Kobe to chase their next dynasty.
