Only a 12 months in the past, Luka Doncic thought he’d be a Maverick for all times. Now, he’s a Laker for the lengthy haul, formally placing pen to paper on a three-year max extension value as much as $165 million.
“I used to be sort of considering, clearly not in the intervening time once I received traded, however in a while once I began taking part in, I needed to be right here,” Doncic stated. “Like I stated, that is an incredible group. We have now a belief in one another, so truthfully, I made a decision fairly fast.”
For Lakers normal supervisor Rob Pelinka, Saturday’s signing was greater than a contract.
“Six months in the past to the day, the Los Angeles Lakers selected Luka Doncic via a commerce the place he got here to our franchise,” Pelinka stated. “Right this moment, Luka Doncic selected the Los Angeles Lakers.”
The extension just isn’t the one factor followers are buzzing about. Doncic confirmed up noticeably leaner, incomes headlines for his offseason conditioning.
“For the primary month, I didn’t play basketball in any respect,” Doncic defined. “We had been extra targeted on different issues. So I feel that sort of sparked, the primary 5 days was actually exhausting with out basketball. I truly didn’t know what to do, however after it was simpler. However bodily, weightlifting, balancing, these stuff, after which after one month we began taking part in basketball, too.”
Our digital cowl star, Luka Doncic, able to take his sport (and the Lakers) to new ranges of dominance. And this summer season shred has been years within the making.https://t.co/aB19DY7rrL pic.twitter.com/bjVsf1ampI
— Males’s Well being Magazine (@MensHealthMag) July 28, 2025
As for whether or not the commerce sparked a so-called revenge physique, Luka downplayed the concept.
“I’d simply say, it was like a recent begin for me,” Doncic stated. “Clearly, I used to be on my method of doing it [already], nevertheless it was simply sort of a recent begin. I had a bit of extra time to get my thoughts on basketball, simply doing different issues. So, I’d simply say, like, a recent begin for me.”
Wanting up on the 17 championship banners hanging contained in the fitness center, Doncic made his mission clear.
“Actually, I feel we’ve got an ideal workforce,” Doncic stated. “We have now what we have to compete for the championship. I’ll carry no matter I can… We received some new nice guys being on the workforce. We’re going to go for it.”
Luka, recent off signing a max extension: pic.twitter.com/3EVOvN06gW
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) August 2, 2025
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