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The Dallas Mavericks have picked up the fourth-year team option on All-Star Luka Doncic’s contract, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported Tuesday afternoon. This option is for the 2021-22 season and is worth $10.1 million, per Shams. Doncic, who was an All-Star last season and MVP candidate, will be due for a contract extension next offseason.
Doncic finished fourth in MVP voting in 2019-20 behind James Harden, LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo. The 21-year-old Slovenian native averaged nearly a triple-double last season — 28.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 8.8 assists in 61 games. He enters his fourth season in the NBA tied for the best odds to win MVP in 2020-21 at +450, same with Giannis, the reigning two-time MVP.
Doncic should be in line for a hefty pay raise after this season. We saw plenty of pending RFAs coming off their rookie contracts sign max extensions this offseason, including Jayson Tatum, Donovan Mitchell, Brandon Ingram and De’Aaron Fox. Doncic should see a deal similar to those, perhaps slightly higher with incentives if he wins MVP, makes the All-Star team and/or an All-NBA team.