Lakers, Anthony Davis reach record $186M extension —report

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.

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 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 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 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.

--Field Level Media/Reuters