Luka Doncic Just Left $64 Million On The Table… But, In The Long Run, It's A Smart And VERY LUCRATIVE Move

No NBA player had more of a rollercoaster season than Luka Doncic. The superstar, who's only 26 and already made five All-NBA First Teams, led the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2024. He was happy in town and beloved by fans. Then, in the middle of the night one Saturday, the Mavericks abruptly traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers. Because sports are both hilarious and cruel, the Mavericks were "rewarded" for this move by winning the top overall pick in this year's draft, which they used on perhaps another generational talent in Cooper Flagg.

Doncic, meanwhile, had to spend the second half of the season adjusting to his new team. The Lakers earned the No. 3 seed but lost their first-round matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves. All the while, the Mavericks front office seemed to be hellbent on dissing their former star at every turn, indicating his conditioning was a key factor in trading him.

This offseason, Doncic has slimmed down and looks like he's in terrific shape. The Lakers plan to keep him around for the long haul, and the two sides just agreed to a three-year, $165 million contract extension.

Had the Mavericks never traded him, Doncic could have earned over double that amount. He was eligible for a five-year, $345 million extension in Dallas. Even after the trade, Doncic could have signed for up to four years, and $229 million with the Lakers. But he turned down that extra year and $64 million—and it will likely be a good move.

Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images

The new deal, which officially kicks off after this upcoming season, also includes a player option for the 2028-29 season. Doncic will be eligible to sign another deal in 2027 worth up to $323 million over four years.

However, if he waits until the 2028 season and declines his option, he'll have served ten years in the NBA. Assuming the NBA salary cap continues to increase by 10% each season, Doncic, who would be 29 years old, could sign a five-year, $418 million extension with the Lakers.

In that scenario, he'd become the first player to earn $80 million in a single season. Considering load management and rest due to any potential injuries, Doncic would likely make north of $1 million per game. Beyond that, the final year of the deal would have a whopping $95 million salary.

Doncic has expressed his disappointment at being traded from Dallas. He thought he'd spend his entire career there, like Mavs legend Dirk Nowitzki. But inking a max contract and setting himself up for a historic payday is a pretty good consolation prize.