Anthony Davis and Los Angeles Lakers agree three-year contract extension with record NBA annual salary
Anthony Davis and the Los Angeles Lakers have agreed a three-year, $186m (£145m) contract extension through to the 2027-28 season, according to US reports.
The deal averages $62m per season, making it the richest annual salary in league history.
Davis became eligible to sign an extension on Friday and the Lakers quickly locked up the eight-time All-Star power forward.
ESPN first reported that the Lakers and Davis struck the deal, citing Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul.
Despite Davis’ lack of durability during his four-year tenure with the Lakers, the team had no qualms making the deal.
A look at Anthony Davis’ dominant performance to help lead the Lakers to a win in Game 3 of their Playoff series against the Golden State Warriors
Davis, 30, signed a five-year, $189.9m (£149m) contract with the Lakers ahead of the 2020-21 season. He is owed $40.6m (£32m) for the upcoming season and $43.2m (£34m) 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.
Anthony Davis scored 38 points for the Los Angeles Lakers against Minnesota Timberwolves
Last season, he averaged 25.9 points and a career-high 12.5 rebounds per game in 56 games (54 starts).
He never has 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.
