Report: Lakers sign Anthony Davis to three-year, $186 million max contract extension

The Los Angeles Lakers and star big man Anthony Davis have agreed on a new max contract extension, according to a report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Davis and the Lakers have agreed on a three-year, $186 million extension that will keep the star tied to the franchise through 2028 for a total of more than $270 million annually.

The deal is the biggest annual max contract extension in NBA history at $62 million per year.

Davis has spent the past four seasons in Los Angeles, where he’s helped the franchise to playoff appearances in three of the last four years. Davis’ first season resulted in an NBA title during the COVID-19 season in 2020.

But the Lakers have struggled the past two seasons. Two years ago the franchise went 33-49 and missed the playoffs entirely. This season, Los Angeles went 43-39 and made the playoffs as a No. 7 seed. The organization reached the Western Conference Finals before falling to Denver.

A big part of Los Angeles returning to form will be Davis’ health. The talented big man has had trouble routinely staying in the lineup the last couple years.

Davis appeared in 62, 36, 40 and 56 regular season games for the Lakers over the past four years.

When healthy, though, there’s zero question about the kind of impact Davis can have or whether he’s worth a max contract extension. The superstar is an eight-time NBA All-Star.

He has twice made the NBA All-Defensive First Team and twice made the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. He’s been a first-team All-NBA selection four times.

As far as statistical production, Davis has led the league in blocks in three different seasons, doing so in 2014, 2015 and 2018.

Before reaching the NBA, Davis was one of the most highly touted players to come out of college in a long time, hailing from Kentucky. He was the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player as the Wildcats won the NCAA title.

He was also the national college player of the year and a consensus first-team All-American in 2012, as well as the SEC Player of the Year, the SEC Defensive Player of the Year and the SEC Rookie of the Year.