A familiar playlist of Balkan hits led Luka Doncic out onto the court at the Lakers practice facility. A gallery display of photos stood in the back. Six months after first arriving here in a blockbuster trade that shocked the NBA, Doncic has good reason to finally relax.
Doncic signed a three-year, $165-million deal with a player option in 2028 on Saturday, his agent Bill Duffy, confirmed to The Times. In 2028, he would be eligible for a five-year extension worth more than $360 million.
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It was an exclamation point to Doncic’s summer media tour that included a “Men’s Health” article detailing his offseason workout regimen, a “Today Show” interview and a photo opp with Aaron Judge at a New York Yankees game.
Now it’s back to basketball.
“We have what we need to compete for the championship,” Doncic said. “I’ll try to win every game no matter what and we got some new great guys on the team so you know we’re going to go for it.”
Several of Doncic’s Lakers teammates, including Marcus Smart, Deandre Ayton, Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent and Maxi Kleber, were seated in the background of the impromptu Saturday morning news conference. Doncic, wearing a slim-fitting black suit that showcased his widely talked about toned figure, hunched on a tall chair next to general manager Rob Pelinka.
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Read more: Luka Doncic takes a jab at Mavericks while showing off his revenge body
After Doncic and Pelinka posed for the traditional photo opportunity, Lakers teammates and coach JJ Redick descended on the floor and squeezed in for a photo as Doncic held his gold No. 77 jersey.
Less than a full season into his Lakers tenure, Doncic was a critical figure in helping construct what he proudly proclaimed could be “a team to win the championship.” He placed two calls to Smart to lure the defensive ace to L.A. after the Washington Wizards bought out his contract. A smiling Ayton stood to Doncic’s left in the photos, the 7-foot center adding a lob-catching center that will “unlock so much in Luka,” Pelinka said.
“Our thesis for our roster was to get younger,” said Pelinka, who also added 23-year-old sharpshooting forward Jake LaRavia in free agency. “… We like the upgrades we were able to make to the roster. But by no means are we going to be satisfied. I think every year we’re on an infinite cycle to try to improve this team and win championships and we’ll stay committed to that work.”
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In 28 games with the Lakers, Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists in 35.1 minutes per game. But the team was handily bounced from the playoffs, losing 4-1 to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a first-round series as Doncic averaged 30.2 points per game, 7.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists.
After the shocking trade that sent Anthony Davis to Dallas in exchange for Doncic, the Slovenian star was criticized for his work ethic and fitness. But after working with his personal trainers, Doncic’s svelte physique has been the talk of the NBA since “Men’s Health” published a feature about how he remade his body with an offseason program focused on weightlifting, sprints and a no-sugar, high-protein diet.
The makeover has been perceived as Doncic’s revenge since the Mavericks traded him unceremoniously. Yet Doncic insisted he was already “on my way [to] doing it.”
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka and guard Luka Doncic hold up Doncic’s No. 77 jersey during a news conference Saturday to discuss his new three-year, $165-million contract extension. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)
“But it was just kind of a fresh start,” Doncic added.
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The 26-year-old’s extension was one of the biggest check marks of the Lakers’ offseason that also included LeBron James exercising his player option for $52.6 million. The 40-year-old superstar who is entering his 23rd NBA season was not present Saturday.
Saturday’s announcement came six months to the day after Doncic joined the team in a trade that, for the first time, took focus in the Lakers organization away from James. The franchise suddenly brought in another central figure who would carry the team into its next era.
The move took Doncic by surprise. He wouldn’t have chosen to leave Dallas. But by signing a new deal with the Lakers, he affirmed his choice for the future.
“We could not be more grateful for you choosing this partnership,” Pelinka said. “The best young basketball player in the universe joins, for the long-term future, the best sports franchise on the globe.”
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The decision wasn’t difficult for Doncic, who posted on social media that the extension was “just the beginning.” He knew from his Lakers debut, after he recovered from a lingering calf injury that marred his final months with the Mavericks, that he could make a home with this franchise. The fan reception made it clear in his mind.
Doncic has endeared himself to the community by donating to wildfire recovery in L.A., pledging funds to restore Kobe and Gianna Bryant murals around the city and paying for parking at Lakers games. On Saturday, Doncic made his first comments in Spanish, acknowledging the high number of Spanish-speaking Lakers fans. He joked that he wouldn’t speak English.
“Being a Laker is an honor,” Doncic said, “and I wanted to be here.”
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
