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Luka Doncic's New Lakers Contract Opens up $417 Million Opportunity, Per Report

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Dave Ettinger | Last updated Aug 2, 2025 4:18 PM ET

Luka Doncic has made Los Angeles his home for a little while longer. After shockingly being traded in the middle of a Saturday night in February from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers, Doncic was instantly welcomed into his new home by Lakers' faithful and fellow superstar, LeBron James.

And as of Saturday, per multiple reports, Doncic has officially signed a three-year, $165 million contract extension with the Lakers. With James picking up his player option earlier this offseason ($52.6 million), the duo will have at least one season together to make a run at a championship.

While Doncic is presumably happy with his nine-figure contract extension, this opens up a brand new, $417 million opportunity for the 26-year-old superstar.

As per ESPN's Shams Charania, Doncic is now eligible for a projected five-year, $417 million contract in 2028.

Imagine this Luka contract in 2028 ‍

(via @ShamsCharania) pic.twitter.com/EMnGuJnweb
— ESPN (@espn) August 2, 2025

Doncic's new contract extension contains a player option 2028. If Doncic were to opt out and sign a new deal, he would be eligible for 35% of the salary cap (which currently projects to five years and $417 million). This would allow Doncic to recoup the money lost when he was traded by the Mavericks, as he would have been eligible to sign a five-year, $315 million supermax extension this summer with his former team.

In 28 regular season games with the Lakers last season, Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. And despite being eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the playoffs, in his first postseason with the Lakers, Doncic became the fifth player in franchise history to average 30 points, five rebounds, and five assists in a playoff series.

With his contract extension in the past, Doncic, James, Austin Reaves, and new offseason additions, Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart will set their sights on making a championship run for the 2025-26 NBA season.

And following Doncic's new conditioning regimen being made public in the most recent issue of Men's Health magazine, he appears to be in the "championship shape" head coach, JJ Redick hopes all of his players will be in this season.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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