The Los Angeles Lakers have signed Luka Dončić to a long-term contract extension, as announced by the team on Saturday. This extension is valued at three years and $165 million, including a player option for the year 2028, as multiple reports have indicated. This deal follows the team’s acquisition of Dončić, which took place in a surprising trade with the Dallas Mavericks last February.

“I just signed my extension with the Lakers,” Doncic shared via social media. “Excited to keep working to bring championships to L.A. 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.”

While this extension is the highest annual salary Dončić can receive with the Lakers, it is significantly less than he would have been eligible for this offseason had he remained with the Mavericks. His All-NBA selections in 2023 and 2024 qualified him for a supermax contract extension which could have been worth around $335.9 million over five years.

However, due to NBA rules, this supermax is only available for players either on their original teams or those added during the first four years of their career. Because Dončić joined the Lakers well into his seventh NBA season, he is restricted by the standard veteran extension guidelines. This extension allows him the option to enter free agency after ten seasons in the league, at which point he could potentially command a 35% max salary again.

Moving away from the Mavericks, Dončić heads to a Lakers team that, while not losing sight of the future, has made key moves to bolster their roster, including acquiring defensive talent like Marcus Smart and center Deandre Ayton. Meanwhile, they are also preparing for future free agency to potentially bring in another superstar who can complement Dončić.

In summary, while his previous team may have feared his long-term health, Luka Dončić appears ready to secure his legacy in Los Angeles, eager to bring championships back to the storied franchise.