Luka Dončić has officially committed to his new team following a significant trade that occurred last season. The All-Star guard signed a three-year, $165 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, as confirmed by his agent Bill Duffy to ESPN's Shams Charania. Soon after finalizing his contract, Dončić addressed reporters at a press conference and immediately returned to training, demonstrating his commitment to his new franchise.

This offseason, Dončić was eligible for a four-year, $229 million extension as well as a potential five-year, $296 million deal had he chosen to wait until next summer. Although he agreed to the extension, reports indicated that the Lakers were somewhat anxious about the possibility of him not signing. Nonetheless, Dončić gave the organization strong indications of his intent to commit, notably assisting in the recruitment of several players to Los Angeles in July.

The trade that brought Dončić to the Lakers was a surprising development for the NBA, with the Dallas Mavericks sending their franchise player to Los Angeles in exchange for Anthony Davis. Dončić, who led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals the previous season, has continued to perform at a high level. During the 2024-25 season, he averaged 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game while splitting time between Dallas and Los Angeles. Despite a promising late-season surge that secured the Lakers the No. 3 seed in the playoffs, they fell short of expectations, losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round. Moving forward, the Lakers have made roster adjustments aiming to better support Dončić's playstyle as they pursue the franchise's 18th championship.