The Los Angeles Lakers have officially signed NBA star Anthony Davis to a three-year, $186 million extension. Vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka released a statement on the move.
“In our conversations with Anthony, his desire to lead our franchise for the next several years became abundantly clear,” Pelinka said. “AD understands that his commitment to being the hardest worker, combined with his high character, is what will help define our culture for many seasons to come. It is a proud day for Lakers Nation when we’re able to extend the contract of one of the game’s most dominant two-way players.”
Davis signed a five-year, $190 million contract with the Lakers in December 2020. That deal included an early termination option in 2024 and will be fully up in 2025. Davis has the same agent (Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group) as LeBron James, who signed a two-year, $99 million extension with the Lakers last summer.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Anthony Davis, Rob Pelinka & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
A future Hall of Famer, Davis averaged 25.9 points, 12.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.0 blocks last NBA season in 56 games while shooting 56.3% from the field, 25.7% from beyond the arc and 78.4% from the free-throw line. The Lakers made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals after starting the season 2-10.
“We are definitely trending in the right direction,” Davis said after the Lakers’ season ended. “Like I said, we don’t know what the roster looks like next year, but I think the guys that came in in the second half of the season played well for us and also helped us into this situation.
“Obviously, the goal is to win championships, and we wanted to be not just knocking on the door but actually get it done, walk through the door. So that’s our goal. That’s our goal every time we step on the floor for training camp, and I’m a hundred percent sure that will be the goal next year.”
Davis finished the 2023 NBA playoffs averaging 22.6 points, 14.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.4 steals and 3.1 blocks in 16 games versus the Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors and Denver Nuggets. The Lakers got swept by the Nuggets, who won the championship, in the Western Conference Finals.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Anthony Davis, Rob Pelinka & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Davis, who will make $40.6 million next season, helped the Lakers win the 2020 title over the Miami Heat in six games at the Walt Disney World bubble in Orlando, Florida. He has a very close relationship with LeBron.
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