Luka Doncic is currently in his sixth season, earning over $40 million per year. With the seven-year service rule on his side, he was eligible for a potential five-year, $346 million super-max deal in the 2025 offseason. But then, everything changed. The blockbuster trade that sent him to the Los Angeles Lakers threw a wrench in those historic earnings. Losing out on $116 million stings, no doubt. But according to Dwyane Wade, there’s one thing that makes it all worth it.
Doncic was on track to become the first player in NBA history to reach the $70 million mark in salary. It would have been the richest contract in NBA history. Of course, Wade didn’t ignore the financial hit on his podcast.
“Can we talk about the $116 million that Luka didn’t get from it?” Losing that kind of money isn’t easy, but Wade believes joining the Purple & Gold comes with its own set of rewards—a detail he summed up in five words: “He’s going to the Lakers… He get that,” he said.
Naturally, Dwyane Wade’s co-hosts jumped in, doubling down on what makes this move so special. “To put on that purple and gold, you gotta have not only talent. But you gotta have swag,” one of them pointed out.
That’s where Doncic stands out. “I want to talk about Luka’s swag, talk about it. Luka Magic, bro. Because he ain’t just an international player. He ain’t just has a little sauce to him, he a showman.” And that’s undeniable!
Doncic is leading the league with an insane stat line—34.0 points, 9.1 rebounds, 9.8 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. His efficiency is off the charts, shooting 48.9% from the field, 38.0% from deep, and 78.2% from the line. At just 25, he’s a 5x All-Star and now he’s bringing that magic to one of the biggest stages in sports.
Jan 22, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) looks on during a stoppage in play during the first half of the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Minnesota Timberwolves at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Even better, Doncic has checked off all the necessary boxes this season, playing enough games to qualify for MVP and All-NBA honors. He also met the super-max criteria with his previous All-NBA selection. So there is a high possibility that Doncic will prove Dwyane Wade right.
But now, with the Lakers, things look different. The question is—What kind of deal can the Lakers offer their new superstar?
What is Luka Doncic’s expected contract with the Lakers?
According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, Luka Doncic still has three years and $115.08 million left on his current deal, with a player option for the 2026-27 season. If the 25-year-old decides to decline that option, he could sign a massive five-year, $296 million contract with the Lakers starting in 2026-27.
Alternatively, Doncic could go for a contract extension with the Lakers as early as this August. In that case, he’d be eligible for a four-year, $228.6 million deal, which would also start in 2026-27. If he wanted to test free agency instead, any other team could offer him a four-year, $219.4 million contract.
But if Doncic is playing the long game, there’s an even better move financially. He could sign a three-year extension this summer with a player option for 2028-29. This strategy would set him up perfectly—by that time, he’d have 10 years of service in the league, making him eligible for a much bigger deal down the road.
And here’s where it gets really interesting. If he takes that route, his projected salary for the 2028-29 season would be a staggering $72 million. That would set him up for a five-year, $418 million contract with the Lakers—a deal that would make up for all the lost Supermax money and then some.
Well, the Los Angeles move might not have been that bad in hindsight, huh?
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