Luka Doncic has thanked Los Angeles Lakers followers for his or her “open arms” welcome and pledged to “give every little thing I’ve to all of you” after signing a three-year, $165 million extension.
The Lakers acquired Doncic, 26, from the Dallas Mavericks in February in a blockbuster commerce for Anthony Davis, teaming up with talisman LeBron James, who will return for a twenty third marketing campaign within the 2025/26 season.
Slovenian Doncic, who had a participant choice for 2026/27 below his earlier phrases, has given up free company subsequent summer time and is giving $5m to assist 77 younger athletes all over the world “chase their desires”.
“I simply signed my extension with the Lakers,” Doncic informed his thousands and thousands of social media followers. “Excited to maintain working to carry championships to LA and make Laker Nation proud.”
Luka Doncic: Lakers contract extension ‘honor’
“From day one, you’ve welcomed me and my household with open arms,” Doncic informed his followers. “Taking part in for this metropolis is an honor.
“I’m proud to contine carrying the purple and gold and preventing for championships in LA. I’ll give every little thing I’ve to all of you.
“Grateful to the Lakers, my teammates and all of the followers who’ve proven a lot love since day one. That is just the start.
“I’m additionally committing $5m to assist 77 younger athletes all over the world chase their desires, identical to I did. Basketball gave me every little thing and I’m fortunate to have the ability to give again and assist the subsequent era.
Luka Doncic stats
5-time All-NBA nominee and five-time All-Star Doncic averaged 28.2 factors, 8.2 assists and seven.7 rebounds per recreation final season.
In a revered pairing with James, Doncic helped LA enter the Western Convention play-offs because the third seeds.
The 6ft 6in former Actual Madrid guard will really feel he has unfinished enterprise after the Lakers’ 4-1 defeat in the first round to the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves.
“At this time is a monumental second for our franchise,” stated Lakers normal supervisor Rob Pelinka. “Luka is without doubt one of the recreation’s most transcendent gamers, and his on-court dominance and keenness is with out evaluate.
“From the second Luka grew to become a Laker, there was a right away connection and admiration between Luka and our fanbase. You possibly can really feel it in your spirit whenever you attend a recreation.”
Luka Doncic weight reduction
A brand new-look Doncic will return to pre-season coaching after spending the summer time engaged on a rigorous health regime in Croatia.
Regardless of being one of many main lights within the NBA since debuting in 2018, Doncic has confronted common jibes over his physique and lack of conditioning.
The perceived concern was even cited as a purpose for Doncic’s injury-plagued 2024/25, wherein he performed a career-low 50 video games.
Doncic reportedly contacted his supervisor the day after the Lakers’ season ended, informing her of his need to return to Europe and enhance his health.
Males’s Well being: Luka Doncic chats ‘enormous step’
The outcomes have been outstanding, with Doncic looking visibly leaner in a sequence of pictures printed alongside a prolonged interview in Males’s Well being Journal.
“Simply visually, I’d say my entire physique appears higher,” he mirrored.
Doncic was prevented from taking part in basketball for a month and was subjected to prolonged gymnasium work in addition to a gluten-free, low-sugar food regimen that features intermittent fasting and at the very least 250 grams per day of protein.
“Each summer time, I strive my finest to work on various things,” he informed the publication. “Clearly, I’m very aggressive.
“This summer time was just a bit bit totally different, . It type of motivated me to be even higher.
“This yr, with my crew, I believe we did an enormous step. However that is simply the beginning. I must preserve going. Can’t cease.”
