DALLAS – For a kid who grew up dreaming of playing in the NBA, signing the most expensive contract extension in Dallas Mavericks history is more than a dream come true for Luka doncic.
The Mavericks superstar said he never hesitated to agree to stay until the end of the 2026-2027 season with the Mavericks, the team that brought him in and gave him the opportunity to play in the NBA.
The Mavericks confirmed the franchise-record amount of $ 207 million, which is the most in history for a rookie contract extension.
“It is actually a special moment,” Doncic said in a video conference from his country, Slovenia. “Thanks to Dallas for offering me this. I never imagined this would happen. I only dreamed of playing in the NBA from a very young age ”.
“Now I can sign an extension with the Dallas Mavericks for five more years,” added Doncic, 22, who formalized and signed his new contract with the Mavericks in Slovenia on Tuesday morning, after reaching an agreement the day before. .
The new arrangement will take effect in the 2022-2023 season, that is, at the end of the next one, when the contract he signed when he entered the league as a rookie will end.
“Today is a dream come true,” Doncic reiterated. “The sport of basketball has given so much to me and taken me to so many incredible places. I am honored and motivated to stay in Dallas, my home, as part of the Mavericks. “
A large Mavericks entourage traveled there, led by team owner Mark Cuban; the general manager, Nico Harrison; the new head coach, Jason Kidd; former player and now advisor Dirk nowitzki, and several other managers.
“This is a great day for Luka and the Mavericks,” Kidd said. “Many children dream of this and you are showing children around the world that this can happen and come true.”
“To the Mavericks fans you are showing the commitment you have with the team to try to win and bring another championship to town,” added Kidd.
Doncic said he is confident the Mavericks will put the most competitive team possible on the court, sparing no resources in all respects.
But more importantly, Doncic emphasized that they have the chemistry on and off the court to get that championship ring that he said will never rest until he gets it.
Like the first day he was presented with the Mavericks, Doncic’s responses were short at the presentation conference for his new contract, even when they were requested in his language by the press that was present in the room where it was held.
He was sparing in crafting his answers when asked about the assurances the Mavericks had given about building a championship-caliber team around them after they were eliminated twice in a row in the first round of the postseason.
“The secret to being successful at the Olympics was that we all trusted each other and had great chemistry, beyond individual talents,” Doncic responded, when asked about the greatest learning he had with his national team in recent Games. “That is the key to always winning in the sport of basketball.”