After Whirlwind Season, Luka Doncic Locks In Future With Lakers: ‘I wanted to be here’

National Basketball Association

After Whirlwind Season, Luka Doncic Locks In Future With Lakers: ‘I Wanted to Be Here’

Updated Aug. 3, 2025, 9:19 p.m. ET

Six months ago, Luka Doncic walked into the Los Angeles Lakers practice facility looking frazzled. The shock of being unexpectedly traded by the Dallas Mavericks was evident on his face. The feeling of betrayal was evident in every word he spoke. But on Saturday, everything had changed.

Doncic has agreed to a three-year, $165 million maximum contract extension with the Lakers, which includes a player option for 2028. This time, what shone through Doncic was a newfound steel resolve. He spent the offseason transforming his body, recognizing that playing for a franchise with 17 championships in a city full of opportunities could change his life. He is determined to prove his doubters wrong.

Regarding the contract extension, Doncic stated, “Being a Laker is an honor, and I wanted to be here. So, obviously, when you look over here, so many great names and what they achieved, I want to be up there too one day.”

It’s clear that Doncic is gearing up for a revenge season, which presents an incredible opportunity for the Lakers, a franchise that has struggled to advance beyond the first round of the playoffs in the past two seasons, even with LeBron James on the roster.

When Doncic arrived in Los Angeles last winter, he was wide-eyed and heartbroken, feeling embarrassed about the trade fiba asia women’s 2023. It was unprecedented for a 25-year-old superstar to be dealt, especially one who had hoped to spend his entire career with the Mavericks, the team that drafted him.

To make matters worse, rumors began to surface about him being out of shape, lazy, and disengaged, despite having led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2024. However, it is now apparent that Doncic has not only accepted his new reality but has embraced it wholeheartedly. He has provided the Lakers with the commitment they desperately needed when they traded Anthony Davis to acquire him. It is now Doncic’s team, and he is eager to show the Mavericks just how big of a mistake they made.

When asked if he is in the best shape of his career, Doncic confidently replied, “We’ll just say, you know, it was like a fresh start for me.” He mentioned feeling faster and anticipating being a better defender. He is ready for the long minutes ahead as he aims to lead the Lakers to their first championship since 2020.

This summer, Doncic completely revamped his routine to mold his body into a leaner, more defined version of itself. “For the first month, I didn’t play basketball at all,” Doncic shared. “We were more focused on other things. So I think that kind of sparked it. The first five days were really hard without basketball; I just didn’t know what to do. But after that, it became easier in terms of weight lifting, balance, and those aspects. After a month, we started playing basketball again.”

Numerous Lakers players were present at the practice facility on Saturday to celebrate Doncic’s long-term commitment to the team, including Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, Adou Thiero, Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Jaxson Hayes, and Maxi Kleber why do we need to promote the arts developed from the different regions of the philippines. One notable absence was LeBron James, who shared videos of himself golfing on Instagram that day. James, who opted into the final year of his $52.6 million contract for the upcoming season, has sparked speculation about his future. His agent, Rich Paul, mentioned that James “knows the Lakers are building for the future” but added, “He values a realistic chance of winning it all.”

In the first media availability since James’ decision, Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka was asked if he believes James will finish his career with the Lakers. “I think the No. 1 thing we have to do is respect he and his family’s decision regarding how long he’s going to play,” Pelinka stated fiba philippines. “We want to respect his ability to come up with his timetable on that. I think that’s really important. rice tractor But, if he had a chance to retire a Laker, that would be great.”

It’s clear that the Lakers’ focus is now firmly on Doncic, and fortunately for them, the commitment is mutual. Doncic is no longer the stunned player who walked into the same facility six months ago. He is laser-focused and ready to embrace his new role.

When asked about the stark difference in how he feels, Doncic couldn’t help but laugh. “Way better,” he said. “Way better.”

What are your thoughts on Doncic’s transformation and commitment to the Lakers?

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