Dean Simon
Luka Dončić’s loyalty to the Los Angeles Lakers has remained in question since his arrival via trade from the Dallas Mavericks this past season.
Fortunately for the storied franchise, it appears that the 5-time All-NBA First Team selection and 26-year-old phenom plans to remain the centerpiece of the organization heading into the post-LeBron James era.
After the Lakers recently acquired former No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft Deandre Ayton and 2022 Defensive Player of the Year winner Marcus Smart this offseason, reports surfaced that Dončić had a hand in recruiting the pair of talented complementary pieces, indicating that he is fully committed to winning in Los Angeles.
Dončić’s offseason enthusiasm has been viewed as a positive sign by fans and NBA media members alike, and new updates have indicated that the Lakers can breathe a sigh of relief, as the likelihood of the generational guard inking a hefty contract extension with the franchise this summer continues to see exponential growth.
“There was ownership by Luka this offseason to stamp down that he wants to be part of the Lakers moving forward, and he wants others to join him,” ESPN’s Dave McMenamin shared during a Wednesday evening appearance on ESPN’s NBA Today.
“So he makes calls to Deandre Ayton, the guy who came into the draft with him as the No. 1 pick, now he’s the center for the Lakers.”
“(Dončić) makes calls to Marcus Smart, needs to fill the point-of-attack defender spot that Dorian Finney-Smith occupied last year, he now plays for the Houston Rockets. (He) gets Marcus Smart to come.”
“We look at that Aug. 2 date when the Lakers can offer an extension to Luka Dončić worth four years, $222 million, up to that figure. I would say if you’re a Laker fan, you shouldn’t have any worry about Luka coming to some sort of an extension agreement.”
Following the league-shattering trade that swapped Dončić for 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis on Feb. 2, the Slovenian superstar contributed 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists while knocking down 37.9% of his 9.6 three-point attempts in 28 regular-season contests with the Lakers to close the 2024-25 campaign.
Los Angeles would then fall in disappointing fashion in the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs to the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games, but the Lakers have already begun to look forward to a future with Dončić at the helm.
The one-of-a-kind offensive talent will have the option of inking a deal for three or four years, but it looks as though the Lakers could be afforded a semblance of security regardless of the contract’s structure.