Luka Doncic is staying in Los Angeles for a while yet. On Saturday the Slovenian superstar, exactly six months after he was shockingly traded to the Lakers by the Dallas Mavericks, signed a three-year max contract extension to stay in purple and gold until at least 2028. The news makes for a huge sigh of relief for the Lakers, who until this point could only hope Doncic would sign the extension instead of waiting for a bigger payday as a free agent next offseason.
In tandem with the extension news, Lakers GM and president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka released a statement praising Doncic as an "absolute killer" whose future in Los Angeles is very bright indeed.
"Today is a monumental moment for our franchise," Pelinka wrote. "Luka Doncic's future is with the Los Angeles Lakers. Luka is one of the game’s most transcendent players, and his on-court dominance and passion is without compare. From the moment Luka became a Laker, there was an immediate connection and admiration between Luka and our fanbase. You can feel it in your spirit when you attend a Lakers game. Luka is an absolute killer on the court, and blends that with a unique generosity and care for the community. Above all else, Luka will lead our franchise to pursue future championships, a goal that will forever define the Lakers."
What a day for the Lakers.
Pelinka's job is still not easy going forward. With Doncic officially in the fold for at least the next three seasons he must embark upon building a contending roster that aligns with Doncic's timeline as well as LeBron James's, with the 40-year-old star's contract after the coming season.
Still, it's an enviable position to be in. Doncic and the Lakers are in a good spot going forward.
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