Luka Doncic’s weight had been a major talking point in the NBA in recent years, with many believing it was one of the things that held him back. It was also reportedly one of the reasons the Dallas Mavericks traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers. But months later, it’s Doncic who’s having the last laugh at his former team, appearing fit and shredded on the cover of the recent issue of Men’s Health magazine.
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Doncic has started to feel the need to stand up for himself. The 26-year-old knows he has to condition himself better to be the face of the league, something he has the potential to become. However, he still believes it is important to defend his game from before he lost all the weight, though his performances speak for themselves. After all, Doncic led the Mavs to the NBA Finals just over a year ago.
Had it not been for the unstoppable Boston Celtics superteam, Doncic might have had a ring to show off. But in terms of performance, there were very few shortcomings, especially on the defensive side of things.
“Obviously, I try to not read much, just try to focus,” Doncic said in an interview with Today. “I think I was still a pretty good basketball player back then, no matter what people say.”
In the time Doncic was considered ‘unfit’, he had five-time First Team selections and recorded 80 triple-doubles. He also finished in the top 10 of MVP voting five times and won Rookie of the Year in 2018/19. The idea that his weight was holding him back as a player simply doesn’t hold water.
However, Luka was noticeably a bit larger this past season than when he entered the league. He also looked fatigued down the stretch when the Mavs lost the Finals to the Boston Celtics. This could’ve been due to several reasons, like the minutes he was playing per game and injuries.
But it never hurts to have more gas in the tank. And Doncic knew that weight loss was the next step in his journey as an NBA superstar. “I think it was the next step in my career,” he said. “At the end, I’m still 26. I [have] got a long way to go, so that was a good step in my career.”
Staying in shape is key to staying durable and having a long career. He probably understands that now, especially playing alongside James, who has lasted 22 seasons. That’s not just because he’s elite, but because he’s always kept himself in top shape.
All in all, it’ll be interesting to see if this fitter version of Doncic makes a bigger impact next season.
The Lakers were upset in the first round of the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves. And even though it was far from Luka’s fault that they lost, he will surely want to redeem both himself and the team and come out firing on all cylinders in 2025/26.
