Reports: Anthony Davis, Lakers agree to 3-year, $186M contract extension
Anthony Davis and the Lakers agreed to terms on a contract extension that should keep the 30-year-old big man in Los Angeles for the foreseeable future.
Davis and the Lakers agreed to a three-year, $186 million maximum contract extension, tying him to the franchise through 2028 for a total of $270 million, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski was first to report. Davis’ deal is the richest annual contract extension in NBA history, averaging $62 million per season.
The 11-year NBA veteran, who had two years (one guaranteed) and $84 million left on the five-year, $189.9 contract he signed with the Lakers in December 2020, became eligible to sign an extension on Friday. He had until Oct. 23 to do so, but Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka and agent Rich Paul wasted no time completing a deal.
Davis has a $40.6 million salary for the 2023-24 season. As part of agreeing to the extension, Davis will opt into his $43.21 salary for 2024-25 – the last year of his original deal, which he had an early termination option for. His three-year extension will begin with the 2025-26 season.
Pelinka declined to speak about the Lakers’ extension plans for Davis when he met with reporters in mid-July, citing the collective bargaining agreement, but it was clear signing Davis to a long-term deal was a priority.
“Couldn’t think more highly of Anthony Davis as a Laker and as a player,” Pelinka said at the time. “He’s helped deliver a championship to our franchise. He’s been an incredible captain and leader. We saw last year, willing to play through a hard foot injury to get our team to the Western Conference finals. So, just love having him as a part of our team.”
Davis, the No. 1 pick in the 2012 draft, who the Lakers acquired in a blockbuster trade with the New Orleans Pelicans in July 2019, is an eight-time All-Star with career averages of 24 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.3 blocked shots and 1.3 steals per game.
The highlight of his time with the Lakers so far has been winning the 2020 NBA championship, during a playoff run in which Davis averaged 27.7 points (57.1% shooting), 9.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.2 assists.
But the four-time All-NBA first-team player has struggled with injuries during his time alongside LeBron James, only appearing in 63% (194 of 308) of the Lakers’ regular-season games since 2019-20.
Davis played in 62 of 72 games in 2019-20, 36 of 72 in 2020-21, 40 of 82 in 2021-22 and 56 of 82 this past season.
He missed 20 consecutive games from Dec. 18-Jan. 24 because of a bone spur and stress reaction in his right foot but was available when it mattered most. Davis appeared in 31 of the final 34 regular-season games – he didn’t play both nights of most back-to-backs after his return – and played in every playoff game as part of the Lakers’ run to the Western Conference finals.
Davis averaged 25.9 points and a league-best 12.5 rebounds to go with 2.6 assists, two blocks and 1.1 steals this past season.