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Slovenian-born Luka Dončić wants to keep making his mark in the NBA—no matter the team—and the Los Angeles Lakers are determined to be the franchise where his full potential continues to shine. The Lakers secured the 26-year-old All-Star with a three-year, $165 million contract extension, making it clear who they believe is their cornerstone for the future.
“Today, Luka Dončić chose the Los Angeles Lakers,” said general manager Rob Pelinka during Saturday's press conference. “And that is a monumental moment in Lakers history. We could not be more grateful.” according to Yahoo Sports. The deal includes a player option for 2028, setting Dončić up for a possible five-year, $400 million-plus supermax contract once he hits his 10th NBA season.
Dončić addressed the media with a heartfelt message:
“I just want to say thank you. You guys welcomed me with open arms. Thank you, Mark (Walter), thank you, Jeanie (Buss), JJ (Redick), Rob, and the whole organization. Honestly, I can't wait to get started.” Since arriving in February, Dončić has averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists in 28 games for the Lakers—nearly identical to his production in Dallas.
His transition, though, didn't come without challenges. Dončić played through illness during the first-round playoff loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, managing just 17 points in Game 3. Following the series-ending defeat in Game 5, he admitted the emotional toll the trade had taken.
“I'm mentally kind of exhausted from everything that happened,” he said. “A lot of people won't believe me, but I am. So I just think now is the time to process everything, everything to it.”
After the season, Dončić focused on recovery and physical transformation. He adopted a gluten-free, low-sugar diet, practiced intermittent fasting, and trained twice daily in Croatia, emerging with a physique some already call MVP-ready.
“For the first time, I took my time to get it to heal 100 percent,” he said. “Other times, I think I just wanted to go back on the court playing basketball and not really be healthy 100 percent. So this time, I just took my time.”
Dončić also made his long-term vision clear.
“Being a Laker is an honor, and I wanted to be here,” he said. “I want my name up there [in the rafters] someday. We're going to go for it.” With the contract signed, Dončić and the Lakers have a clear path ahead.
