Luka Doncic is turning a new page, mentally and physically. After a grueling year that included a blockbuster trade to Los Angeles, the superstar guard admitted he took a drastic step this summer that he’s never taken before: stepping away from basketball entirely for a full month.
“I will say, me and my team, we tried some new things—different food, different practices,” said Doncic. “I actually gave up playing basketball for one month, which I’ve never done in my whole life. Mentally, basketball I’ve been playing my whole life, so I won’t forget how to play basketball in one month. We tried other sports, and I think it was a good thing.”
Despite career averages of 28.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game on 46.8% shooting, Luka Doncic gained a reputation for being out of shape and misconditioned during the season. Concerns about his conditioning and shot selection were enough for the Mavericks to lose faith, leading to the trade that changed everything back in February.
As a Laker now, Doncic has more than a few reasons to prepare harder for the 2025-26 campaign. According to Doncic’s camp, he was already headed for a career year, regardless of the trade, but now he’s going above and beyond to prove the Mavericks wrong.
From reports in and around the Lakers, we know that Doncic is already putting in some extra steps to ensure his success next season, including recruiting talent to the team (Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart), committing to a strict diet regimen, and spending extra time refining his game.
Part of the routine seems to be a break from the game altogether, which is completely uncharted territory for the Slovenian superstar. While he may not be known for his extensive offseason workouts, he never spent any time away from the court to allow himself a mental and physical rest from the sport.
While he maintained his physical activity through other means, he shut off his basketball brain for weeks at a time, and it’s clearly made a major difference in how he’s approached his workouts this summer.
Now, the pressure is on the Lakers to ensure that Luka’s renewed spark doesn’t go to waste. With LeBron James and JJ Redick set to return next season, they already have the foundation of a true contender in the West. To keep up with the best, however, they’ll need consistency from the supporting cast—guys like Austin Reaves, Deandre Ayton, and Rui Hachimura will have to step up and play their roles.
Whether this month-long break becomes part of Luka’s offseason routine or a one-time reset, it’s already paying dividends. He’s more focused, better conditioned, and more motivated than ever heading into his first full season with the Lakers.
If the new-and-improved Luka Doncic shows up when it matters most, the Western Conference should take notice. Because for the first time in his career, Doncic isn’t just betting on talent, he’s betting on discipline, leadership, and growth.
