NBA superstar Luka Dončić has become the first player in league history to reach a projected annual salary of over $80 million.
On August 2, he agreed to a three‑year, $165 million maximum extension with the Los Angeles Lakers, keeping him under contract through 2028—with a player option for 2028–29, according to the Washington Post.
That deal is paving the way for an even larger contract in 2028, and as salary caps continue to climb, Dončić is projected to surpass all previous income benchmarks, possibly topping $95 million in a single year by the 2028–29 season.
The Slovenian basketball player's new contract sets a new standard for NBA salaries, with the current highest paid players making between $55-$65 million per year on their deals. Stephen Curry, point guard for the Golden State Warriors, was the first NBA player to reach over $50 million with his salary, according to Forbes. Now, it looks like Dončić is poised to overtake that number if his projected earnings play out.
Sports fans had mixed reactions to the recent trade. On Reddit, one user said, "They’ve got Luka locked up for under $60 million per season!!! What a damn steal for the Lakers." Another person said, "At that discount is crazy. Must be nice to be Lakers fan."
About his earnings, someone quipped, "Decent chunk of change." Another commenter joked, "Maybe now he can afford the rent in LA, maybe."
As one of the NBA’s brightest stars, Dončić, 26, began his career playing for Real Madrid from 2015 until 2018. He then went on to play a stint with the Dallas Mavericks between 2018-2025. His most recent deal to play for the Los Angeles Lakers has been regarded as one of the most stunning trades of NBA history, according to NBA.com.
