ANTHONY Davis and the Los Angeles Lakers agreed on a three-year, $186 million deal extension through the 2027-28 season, ESPN reported on Friday (Saturday in Manila).
The deal averages $62 million per season, making it the richest annual salary in league history.
Davis became eligible to sign an extension on Friday (Saturday in Manila) and the Lakers quickly locked up the eight-time All-Star power forward.
Despite Davis’ lack of durability during his four-year tenure with the Lakers, the team had no qualms about making the rich deal.
Davis, 30, signed a five-year, $189.9 million contract with the Lakers ahead of the 2020-21 season. He is owed $40.6 million for the upcoming season and $43.2 million for 2024-25.
Signing Davis to an extension now gives the Lakers one star to build around, given the probability that 38-year-old LeBron James doesn’t have a long future with the team.
Davis was the No. 1 overall pick by New Orleans in the 2012 NBA Draft.
In 660 career games (653 starts) with the New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans (2012-19) and the Lakers, Davis has averages of 24.0 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. Last season, he averaged 25.9 points and a career-high 12.5 rebounds per game in 56 games (54 starts).
He has never played a full season with the Lakers, slowed by a variety of injuries. The 62 games he played in 2019-20 are his Los Angeles high.
Davis is a four-time All-NBA first team and two-time All-Defensive first-team selection.
