Last week Anthony Davis has signed a three-year, $190 million contract extension with the Lakers, binding him to the Purple and Gold till the end of the 2027-28 season.
Lakers’ vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka shared insights into the decision-making process that led to this significant extension.
The Lakers’ leadership, including Jeanie Buss and head coach Darvin Ham, eagerly anticipated Davis’ perspective on the extension. Pelinka emphasized that beyond Davis’ undeniable on-court prowess, the discussions were centered on his character and commitment to team values.
“Jeanie [Buss] and [head coach] Darvin [Ham] and I were probably the most excited to just get Anthony’s perspective about what it means to do an extension like this and to become a leader of the Lakers for years to come,” he said.
“And for us in our conversations with him it was really centered around his character who he is a person, how he treats his teammates, his commitment to wanting to be the hardest worker and just helping establish our culture with that.
“Clearly he’s one of the game’s most dominant two-way players, but to see his desire to kind of take on those leadership reigns was significant for us to have those conversations with him.”
Addressing the concept of pre-agency, Pelinka noted that the Lakers were proactive in starting conversations early and prioritized continuity within the team. The extension reflects the Lakers’ recognition of Davis as a cornerstone of the franchise. Pelinka highlighted Davis’ pivotal role, stating, “Extending Anthony Davis is at the core of that continuity. He’s a pillar of the franchise.”
During the 2022-23 season, Anthony Davis averaged 25.9 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 34 minutes per game. His contributions were instrumental in guiding the Lakers to the Western Conference Finals.
