In the aftermath of his trade from the Mavericks, Lakers star Luka Doncic set the record straight on rumors of his poor conditioning and training habits. In a chat with the media, Doncic shrugged off the rumors and claimed that he’s used to the critics.
“That’s fine, I’ve been questioned many, many times in my life. It’s just another motive to be prepared for myself,” said Doncic. “But I’ve been questioned a lot so I’m used to it. It’s a job, it’s a business and I’m just happy to be here. Play basketball, that’s all I want.”
Doncic, 25, has been the talk of the NBA after his recent trade from the Mavericks sent him to the Los Angeles Lakers. He was expecting to spend his whole career with the Mavericks but it all changed overnight thanks to GM Nico Harrison. It was a trade that nobody saw coming for several reasons, but especially for Luka’s potential on the court.
As a 6x All-Star, 5x All-NBA player, and career 28.6 points per game scorer, Luka is the type of superstar that teams spend decades searching for. He’s the kind of generational talent that most franchises will devote their future to and the fans are still struggling to understand why the Mavericks would give him away.
But not only did they let him go for a 31-year-old big man, they sent him to one of the most powerful and prestigious organizations in the NBA. The worst part of all is that they pinned it all on Luka, citing his poor conditioning and a lack of commitment to staying in shape.
For his entire career, Doncic has faced noise about his weight and the Mavericks had been fighting for years behind the scenes to get him in shape. Despite the All-Star campaigns and MVP numbers, the Mavericks always felt that he was holding them back and it only got worse as his career progressed. Toward the end of his tenure, Doncic was repeatedly showing up in poor condition, and at one point was even pushing 300 pounds.
The Mavericks had enough of it all and elected to trade Luka in favor of a player they believe will fit their culture: Anthony Davis. As a proven champion and dedicated winner, Davis has a lot to offer and he may help fill the void left by Luka’s departure. If nothing else, the Mavericks are hoping his work ethic and personality will help bring out the best in his teammates.
Now, as a Laker, Doncic gets the chance to start over and prove that he can keep his body in premium shape. With the ultimate training staff and LeBron James there to show him his routine, Doncic will be equipped for success and he’ll be in a position to have the best stretch of his career.
But first, Luka must get comfortable as a Laker and it could take time for things to settle in. With Mark Williams on the way, they have a proper center to pair with Doncic but the work of building a contender has only just begun. The key for Luka is proving that he can stay in shape and that he can consistently show up for the Lakers whenever it’s time to step up.
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