Slovenian NBA star signs three-year extension with LA Lakers

Slovenian NBA star Luka Dončić has pledged his allegiance to his new team, the Los Angeles Lakeks, by signing a $165 million maximum extension contract through 2028.

The contract positions the 26-year-old for an even larger deal in 2028, when he can look forward to a projected five-year, $417 million contract, CE Report quotes The Slovenia Times.

This would compensate for the amount he forfeited by not signing a "supermax" extension with his former team, the Dallas Mavericks.

"This is just the beginning," Dončić said after signing the deal. "I'm excited for what's ahead and to keep building something special with this team."

The Lakers acquired Dončić from the Mavericks last February in what many considered the most shocking trade in NBA history.

Although his debut season in Los Angeles ended with a first-round playoff loss to Minnesota, Dončić proved his mettle alongside LeBron James, averaging 28.2 points, 8.2 assists and 7.7 rebounds per game last season.

And while it initially seemed that he had a hard time bidding farewell to Dallas, which he had called his home for seven years, says he enjoys his time on the West Coast and indicated this is where he is looking to make history.

"Many great players played here, so obviously I want to add one more up there. That's what we're working for," he told the press, speaking under the retired numbers at the Lakers' training complex.

With preseason in the NBA not kicking off until October, Dončić's first task after the contract extension will be to lead the Slovenian national team in the Eurobasket, which starts at the end of August.

He is expected to join training camp early next week, and on 8 August he will be on the court as Slovenia take on reigning world champions Germany in a friendly in Stožice arena.

At the Eurobasket Slovenia will compete in a group that features Iceland, France, Poland, Belgium and Israel.