All the while, Dončić has been left to adjust to a new team, one that, unlike most players of his ilk, he did not choose to join. That created a bit of uncertainty surrounding his long-term status. Dončić was initially set to become a free agent in the summer of 2026.

Luka Dončić, who was sent to the Los Angeles Lakers in a blockbuster trade last February that sent shockwaves around the league, is staying in purple and gold for the next few years. ESPN’s Shams Charania,

Luka Dončić has agreed to a three-year, $165 million maximum contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers, bypassing a chance at free agency next summer to build a long-term future with his new team. The deal keeps Dončić with Los Angeles through 2028. The Slovenian superstar had a player option for the 2026-27 season under his previous contract.