Luka Doncic Open To Leaving Lakers When Nearing Retirement Age: Where Will He Go?

Luka Doncic prides himself most in his loyalty and has assured the Lakers that, for the foreseeable future, he will play for them. From his three-year, $165 million extension with the Lakers to a potential contract that pays him $80 million per year, Doncic has a lucrative future waiting for him in Los Angeles. 

However, he believes that for a storybook ending, he could be open to the idea of returning to where it all started. No, not the Mavericks, but in Spain with Real Madrid. In a recent interview with The Wall Street Journal, Doncic admitted that he would be open to the idea of returning to Spain to play for Real Madrid just so he can retire where his journey began. 

“To play with Real Madrid, you have to be so good,” said Doncic when the reporter asked him about playing in Real Madrid for a few years near the end of his career. However, the idea of his final season with Madrid was not so far-fetched to him. 

“For sure,” said Doncic. “They raised me."

Luka Doncic was a young boy at age 13 when he went to Spain all alone and signed his first professional contract with Real Madrid. Therefore, that club will always have a special place in his heart, the place that took a chance on him when he was nobody and arguably gave him the start to the superstar status he has built today. 

With a prospective new league in the making, Doncic might return to play in Europe much sooner than near his retirement altogether. But that would only be if the Lakers are a part of what NBA commissioner Adam Silver is planning to initiate with European teams. 

While Doncic admits that he is still not over the move away from the Mavericks, Doncic has committed his future to the Lakers, and the front office sees him as the franchise cornerstone for the future.  

Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists while shooting 37.9% from range in the 2024-25 season after joining the Lakers. Even though he plans to spend most of his prime with the Lakers now, we could see him retiring in Spain, maybe over a decade away from now. But until then, Lakers fans have nothing to worry about.

Unless the front office changes directions, Doncic should be a Lakers player for a very long time. But when the imminent retirement age nears, he may choose a storybook ending over loyalty.