Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic could be the first NBA player to make $80 million per year, according to ESPN front-office insider Bobby Marks.
“Luka’s gonna be probably the first 80-million-dollar guy,” Marks said to NBA insider Zach Lowe during an appearance on “The Lowe Post” podcast.
One of the best players in the world, Doncic signed a five-year, $215.2 million designated rookie contract extension with the Mavericks in August 2021. The four-time All-Star averaged 32.4 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.0 assists last season while shooting 49.6% from the field, 34.2% from beyond the arc and 74.2% from the free-throw line. Doncic recorded 36 double-doubles and 10 triple-doubles in 66 games.
The 24-year-old Doncic has career averages of 27.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.0 assists with the Mavericks. According to Doncic’s Slovenian teammate Mike Tobey, the Mavericks point-forward is “really taking care of his body” and has improved his nutrition.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks Updates
“I’d say I feel he’s a little bit more rested,” Tobey said, via Cesare Milanti of Eurohoops.net. “He looks fresh and in shape, he’s really taking care of his body and himself a lot more seriously this summer. You can tell it by his nutrition, by how he looks: he’s in a lot better shape. I really see a big step forward in that part of his professionalism. He seems to be more focused.”
The Mavericks talked with Doncic about decreasing his preferred playing weight this summer, according to Tim Cato of The Athletic. Doncic was listed at 230 pounds last season.
The Mavericks missed the play-in tournament last season after making the Western Conference Finals in 2022. Doncic said, “Something’s got to change for sure” during his end-of-the-season press conference.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks Updates
This summer, the Mavericks re-signed Kyrie Irving and Dwight Powell, signed Seth Curry, Dante Exum and Derrick Jones Jr. and acquired Grant Williams from the Boston Celtics and Richaun Holmes from the Sacramento Kings.
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