In the aftermath of his shocking move, Luka Doncic is set to make the Mavericks regret ever letting him go. According to the latest intel out of Los Angeles, the 5x All-Star is in the best shape of his life as he prepares for his first full season as a Laker.
“Doncic has been incredibly committed to his conditioning this offseason,” wrote Dan Woike of The Athletic. “He’s dropped significant weight and is working on a strict diet and cardio training, according to a source with knowledge of the plan. In a shift from his normal offseason, he spent a month away from on-court work to focus more on his body.”
Luka is notorious for being out of shape, but he’s committed to a plan this summer that will keep him active in the weight room and the gym. Of course, he also plans to participate in EuroBasket 2025 this summer, which will add another layer of training and conditioning to his offseason schedule.
“Doncic has looked visibly slimmer in photos and is now back working out with Slovenia, readying for EuroBasket competition later this summer,” wrote Woike.
Usually, Doncic spends most of his offseason doing on-court work, whether it’s shooting drills or hardcore practice sessions. It’s better than nothing, of course, but it failed to have Luka ready by opening night.
This summer, Luka is taking a different approach by focusing more on his body and weight. He’s being intentional about shedding any extra pounds and is trading some of his on-court practice time for more exercise on the cardio machine.
Only time will tell if this work pays off, but some fans have already noticed positive results. In the few photos and videos we’ve seen of Luka this summer, he’s looked a lot slimmer and in some of the best shape we’ve ever seen him.
It’s a major contrast from last season, when Doncic was causing concern with his poor conditioning. His weight fluctuated throughout the campaign, frequently exceeding 230 pounds as he struggled not to lose his breath every time he was on the court.
With averages of 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game on 43.8% shooting last season, Doncic carried the Mavericks offensively until February’s deadline, when he was forced to adjust on the fly to his new team.
It was, in part, due to Luka’s lack of conditioning that the Mavericks let him go so suddenly. According to GM Nico Harrison, they want players with a winner’s mentality, and that means guys who play both ends of the floor while putting in the work to maintain their bodies. The Mavericks lost faith that Doncic could be that guy for them, and now they have those expectations for Cooper Flagg.
For Luka to prove them wrong, he’ll have to deliver his best season yet for the Lakers. With a summer of training and working out, Doncic will be more ready than he’s ever been to deliver high-quality basketball, and he’ll be playing with an added chip on his shoulder after hearing all the rumors that have damaged his legacy.
The Mavericks have awakened a beast inside Luka, and now the whole league will have to deal with the fallout as he looks to prove that the Mavericks made the biggest mistake by trading him with no warning.
