Why Did Luka Doncic Sign With Lakers For 3 Years Instead of 4?

Before Luka Doncic signed his three-year, $165 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday, ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel said it was expected he would ink a four-year, $229 million extension.

Doncic became eligible for a contract extension over the weekend, as it had been six months since the Lakers acquired him in a trade with the Dallas Mavericks in February. The maximum extension could have spanned four seasons after the 2025-26 season.

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But rather than agreeing to a four-year deal, Doncic signed a three-year extension that includes a player option for the 2028-29 season. This extension will work better for Doncic financially in the long run because it allows him to sign a new contract in 2028 when he has reached 10 years of NBA service time.

Once he reaches the 10-year mark, Doncic will become eligible for a higher salary than he is now. Instead of the maximum salary starting at 30 percent of a team’s cap, it will be increased to 35 percent.

Siegel had said that Doncic may consider taking this route so that he could sign a more lucrative contract in the future. Siegel also predicted that Doncic will agree to a contract worth more than $400 million when he gets a new deal in 2028.

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Doncic made a statement on X after signing his new contract extension. He expressed his desire to win a championship with the Lakers, which would be the franchise’s first since 2020 and the first of Doncic’s career.

“I just signed my extension with the Lakers,” Doncic wrote on X. “Excited to keep working to bring championships to LA and make Laker Nation proud. Grateful to the Lakers, my teammates and all the fans who’ve shown so much love since day one. This is just the beginning.”

I just signed my extension with the Lakers. Excited to keep working to bring championships to LA and make Laker Nation proud. Grateful to the Lakers, my teammates and all the fans who’ve shown so much love since day one. This is just the beginning. 💜💛 pic.twitter.com/PrTfTxxlpU
— Luka Doncic (@luka7doncic) August 2, 2025

Lakers general manager also made a statement after the extension agreement.

“Today is a monumental moment for our franchise,” Pelinka said. “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.”

Both the Lakers and Doncic have shown their excitement for what they hope will be a successful future together.

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