Luka Doncic Reportedly Urged Lakers to Do 'Whatever We Can' To Win NBA Title 'Now'
Luka Dončić reportedly discussed his desire for the Los Angeles Lakers to compete for a championship immediately when meeting with president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka and head coach JJ Redick in May.
"I don't want to wait," Dončić told Pelinka and Redick, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin. "I had a taste of the Finals. I am getting back there. So let's do whatever we can now."
Dončić signed a three-year, $165 million contract extension with the Lakers on Saturday, per ESPN's Shams Charania.
The superstar forward's deal also contains a $59.2 million player option for the 2028-29 season (h/t ESPN's Bobby Marks). If Dončić opts out, he'd be eligible to receive a new contract worth up to $417 million over five years.
He secured his future in Los Angeles on Saturday after joining the Lakers in a blockbuster trade with the Dallas Mavericks on Feb. 2, coming off a 2024 NBA Finals appearance in Dallas.
The Lakers' status as a contender also surfaced once LeBron James accepted his $52.6 million player option in June.
James' agent, Rich Paul, told Charania that the NBA's all-time leading scorer would be monitoring Los Angeles' offseason moves after opting in to see if the team is focused on competing for a championship as soon as possible.
"We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future," Paul said. "We do want to evaluate what's best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career. He wants to make every season he has left count, and the Lakers understand that, are supportive and want what's best for him."
While the 40-year-old James and the 26-year-old Dončić are at different stages in their respective careers, the Lakers have attempted to build around both during the offseason.
Los Angeles signed forward Jake LaRavia, center Deandre Ayton and veteran guard Marcus Smart on the free-agent market as the team looks to improve upon a 2024-25 campaign that ended in the first round of the playoffs.
Before signing an extension on Saturday, Dončić reportedly made it clear that he wants the Lakers to build towards winning a championship as soon as the 2025-26 season.
