Luka Doncic went from making it all the way to the NBA Finals last season with the Dallas Mavericks to yet another first-round exit, this time in his first half-season as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. Doncic was a major defensive target for the Minnesota Timberwolves to expose, and expose him they did on multiple occasions, and the Lakers, as a result, are headed to Cancun following their 103-96 defeat in Game 5 of their first-round series.

It has been a whirlwind past few months for Doncic who went all the way from thinking he was going to be a Mavericks player until the end of his career to acclimating to the pressure cooker that is playing for the Lakers. While the Lakers remain the big winner of the Doncic trade, they will have to tend to the uncertainty that comes with his contract, as he can be a free agent at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season (he has a player option). (This is according to Bobby Marks of ESPN.)

Doncic, however, has not yet thought that far into the future yet but is perhaps ready to do so now that the Lakers have been eliminated from the playoffs.

“I didn't think it yet. I've been focused on basketball. Obviously, this is the time now to think about everything,” Doncic said in his postgame presser.

There are a few options that Doncic can take with regards to his next contract; he could either enter opt out of his contract after next season and enter free agency, sign a four-year, $226 million extension starting on August 2 (which would then replace his player option for the 2026-27 season), or sign a two-plus-one deal so he could enter free agency in 2028 and sign a five-year, $418 million deal.

Whatever the case may be, the Lakers have to extend Doncic or it would be a disaster for them moving forward. But it looks as though the Lakers haven't given Doncic any reason to seek greener pastures anyway.

Luka Doncic may be in unfamiliar territory after spending the first six and a half seasons of his career with the Mavericks, but the Lakers and their fanbase, at the very least, have made the Slovenian superstar feel at home.

“It's been great, honestly. The way the fans the accepted me, it's been amazing. I'm really glad that I'm here. Had a great couple months. Obviously trying to learn everything about the team and the city, trying to process everything,” Doncic added.