Mavs Pay More for Fragile AD Than Lakers Will Pay Luka — Dallas Fans in Disbelief
In a stunning twist that continues to haunt Mavericks fans, Luka Dončić has officially signed a three-year, $165 million extension with the Los Angeles Lakers — a move that deepens the pain for Dallas supporters still reeling from his departure. The extension runs through the 2027-28 season, locking up one of the NBA’s most transcendent talents in purple and gold for the foreseeable future.
What makes the situation even more frustrating for Mavericks faithful is the financial comparison between Luka and Anthony Davis. Over the next three seasons, Davis is set to make $186 million with the Mavericks — $21 million more than Dončić will earn over the same span. That difference, which breaks down to about $7 million per year, adds salt to an already gaping wound.
It’s not just the numbers that sting. It’s the optics. The Mavericks, once the proud home of Luka’s brilliance, now find themselves without a generational superstar and instead committed to a 32-year-old Anthony Davis, whose durability is anything but guaranteed. He’s battled abdominal and eye injuries, and over the past five seasons, his availability has mirrored that of former Mavs big man Kristaps Porziņģis — inconsistent at best.
The circumstances of Luka’s departure still feel surreal. Mavs GM Nico Harrison’s decision to trade Dončić under the radar — without fanfare or transparency — has left a bitter taste. There’s lingering resentment that a cornerstone player, the kind teams spend decades trying to find, was dealt away with little explanation and questionable return.
Yes, the Mavericks were fortunate to land top prospect Cooper Flagg in the draft. But with Kyrie Irving sidelined by injuries and Davis an injury risk, the future remains uncertain. For a franchise that once believed it had the next Dirk Nowitzki in Luka, this isn’t just a downturn — it’s a full-blown identity crisis.
And it’s not getting better anytime soon.
