Luka Doncic has already made a statement in the NBA and the Dallas Mavericks did everything to stick to the Slovenian sensation. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Doncic signed a $207 million supermax rookie extension, becoming the youngest player to sign a $200M+ contract. And that's only after spending a few seasons in the league.
Team owner Mark Cuban and franchise legend Dirk Nowitzki made clear how much they wanted Luka to stay as not only they offered him this lucrative deal but also traveled to Slovenia to make it happen.
Luka became the first eligible player for this supermax contract after being selected to the All-NBA Team twice. Shortly after the news was announced, fans may have wondered: How long has he been in the NBA? Let's break it down here.
How many years has Luka Doncic been in the NBA?
Following his amazing rise in European basketball playing for Real Madrid, Luka Doncic became eligible in the 2018 NBA Draft, where the Atlanta Hawks selected him with the third overall pick before trading him to Dallas.
Luka Doncic has been in the NBA for three years so far, the 2021/2022 NBA season will be his fourth year in the league. He immediately showed what he was capable of and was named Rookie of the Year in 2018/19. But his sophomore year has been a breakout for him as he received his first All-Star and All-NBA First Team selections, while also reaching the playoffs with Mavs.
How old is Luka Doncic?
At 22 years of age, Luka Doncic became the seventh player in the league to sign a $200M+ contract extension and is the first one to do so in a supermax rookie extension. He had a fast and early growth in senior basketball with Real Madrid and also with Slovenia, with whom he made his senior debut at 17.
Doncic will turn 23 next year on February 28 with one of the most lucrative contracts in the NBA. Dallas have seen breathtaking performances from him, especially in the 2020/21 campaign. Even though he already has a mind-blowing deal, Doncic is just getting started and we can expect more from him in the years to come.
