Six months ago to the day the Los Angeles Lakers pulled off one of the biggest trades in NBA history when they acquired all-world superstar Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks.
Today, the Lakers ensured that he’ll be a part of the organization for the rest of his prime.
According to ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania, the Lakers have signed Doncic to a three-year, max contract extension worth $165 million. He will have a player option in 2028.
“BREAKING: Los Angeles Lakers All-NBA star Luka Doncic has signed a three-year, $165 million maximum contract extension with the franchise, with a player option in 2028, agent Bill Duffy of WME Basketball told ESPN,” Charania reported.
BREAKING: Los Angeles Lakers All-NBA star Luka Doncic has signed a three-year, $165 million maximum contract extension with the franchise, with a player option in 2028, agent Bill Duffy of WME Basketball told ESPN. pic.twitter.com/oRxAVIm2oD
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 2, 2025
The move ensures that Doncic and NBA icon LeBron James will be paired up for as long as LeBron wants to stay in Los Angeles.
Fans reacted as you would expect
As with the initial trade in February, NBA fans are still angry that the Lakers managed to pull off the biggest trade in NBA history, if not the history of sports itself:
“The NBA conveniently never investigated this trade btw…” one user angrily remarked.
“I’m sad to say: Luka is now officially the enemy. Game on,” wrote another.
“It is crazy to me how the lakers got gifted him by an incompetent GM,” a third wrote.
“Retiring fat and ringless with bronze whilst Mavs got demon Flagg to develop. #nicofc stay winning.”
Lakers fans, meanwhile, are still counting their championships with Luka before winning any:
“To all the ones that thought he would even think about going anywhere else: lol.”
“There’s people who legit thought this wouldn’t happen and that he’d actually leave,” another said with a laugh.
“Lakers winning another championship by 2028.”
“This is a BARGAIN considering all the other contracts I’ve seen signed in the past few months. Luka Doncic is his generation’s marquee player. Time for the Lakers to unleash the BEAST and let the man take over the controls of this offense and team. Nikola Jokic joins in 2026-27?”
Doncic’s dominance on display
Over his seven years in the NBA, Doncic has averaged 28.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game.
If you take out his rookie season when he was playing as a shooting guard rather than a point guard, those numbers rise to 30 points, 8.8 rebounds and 8.7 assists per game over the past six years and higher still if you just go by his last two.
In 28 games for the Lakers last season, he averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game. He helped the team reach the playoffs, only to go out in the first round at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
The historic deal
The February trade that sent him to Los Angeles after 6.5 years in Dallas was truly one for the history books. The Lakers got him in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick. The team also landed Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris as part of the deal.
Will the Lakers win a title with Luka Doncic?
Related: Dallas Mavericks Trade Luka Doncic to Lakers in Blockbuster Deal