Luka Doncic was awarded a new contract by the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday.
The talented guard celebrated with congratulations from LeBron James while going wild in Las Vegas.
The deal came in at three years and $165million, keeping Doncic in purple and gold through 2030. It marks the next phase in the Lakers’ rebuild, with the 26-year-old now firmly at the centre of it.
What caught fans off guard wasn’t the size of the contract, but what happened next. Doncic and a group of Lakers executives flew straight to Las Vegas, where they were spotted at a Backstreet Boys concert inside the Sphere.
Footage soon made its way online. Doncic, Rob Pelinka and Jeanie Buss were filmed singing along to “I Want It That Way,” surrounded by teammates including Gabe Vincent, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt and Jaxson Hayes.
One clip showed Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis chatting with Doncic in the neighbouring suite. Another captured the moment he went backstage to meet the band. Back in April, Doncic had called them his favourite group.
LeBron James didn’t attend the concert or the press conference earlier in the day. His absence drew attention, but reports later confirmed that he FaceTimed Doncic on Saturday morning to congratulate him.
It was a small gesture, but it didn’t go unnoticed. For all the noise around his own future, LeBron still made sure to acknowledge the moment.
The Luka Doncic new contract extension now gives the Lakers a clear foundation heading into the final stretch of LeBron’s career.
Bronny James continues to develop. Austin Reaves missed the day while touring Asia. But most of the key figures in the organisation were present for the Vegas trip.
Doncic’s arrival mid-season in a shocking NBA trade that sparked life into a tired roster, with this deal giving the Lakers someone to build around after LeBron’s retirement.
Doncic averaged 27.9 points, 8.2 assists and 7.1 rebounds after arriving from Dallas in a blockbuster midseason trade. He adapted quickly to the Lakers’ system and formed a strong on-court connection with LeBron, who often deferred late-game possessions to the Slovenian.
The pair led the team to the Western Conference Finals before falling to Denver in six games. With LeBron nearing 41 and expected to manage his minutes, Doncic is now the team’s primary option.
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