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 price as much as $165 million.
“I used to be form of pondering, clearly not in the mean time once I bought traded, however afterward once I began enjoying, I wished to be right here,” Doncic stated. “Like I stated, that is a tremendous group. Now we have 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 by a commerce the place he got here to our franchise,” Pelinka stated. “In the present day, Luka Doncic selected the Los Angeles Lakers.”
The extension shouldn’t be 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 have been extra targeted on different issues. So I believe that form of sparked, the primary 5 days was actually laborious 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 enjoying basketball, too.”
Our digital cowl star, Luka Doncic, able to take his recreation (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 manner of doing it [already], however it was simply form 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 health club, Doncic made his mission clear.
“Actually, I believe we’ve an amazing crew,” Doncic stated. “Now we have what we have to compete for the championship. I’ll convey no matter I can… We bought some new nice guys being on the crew. 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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