Slovenia’s EuroBasket run ended in stunning fashion. Despite Luka Doncic playing like the best player in the tournament, Germany — the reigning FIBA World Cup champions — pulled off a 99–91 quarterfinal win. Doncic scored 39 points with 10 rebounds and 7 assists, the most points ever in a EuroBasket quarterfinal, but it wasn’t enough.
Afterward, German forward Franz Wagner weighed in on Doncic’s much-discussed body transformation. Having faced Doncic both before and after his slim-down, Wagner said he didn’t notice a difference — because Doncic has always been that good.
“He’s like that all the time,” Wagner said. “So, I see no difference, really. Extremely good player, if he got a little bit better, which he might have, it’s tough to tell with him.”
Luka Doncic Puts Work In
Doncic has been the story of EuroBasket, averaging 34.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game. He also led the field in scoring, assists, and free throw attempts. What stood out even more was his energy on defense, an area often criticized during his NBA seasons.
Doncic’s transformation didn’t happen overnight. Months after being traded from Dallas, he dropped around 30–35 pounds, bringing him down to roughly 230. His conditioning had long been a talking point, but it was reportedly one of the reasons the Dallas Mavericks infamously — and egregiously — chose to move on from him, even after he had led them to the NBA Finals the year before. Doncic has since turned that slight into fuel. The perceived disrespect pushed him into the best shape of his career, setting the stage for a fresh start with the Los Angeles Lakers.
By October, he’ll debut his new look alongside LeBron James in preseason. Sources inside the Lakers have even suggested that James inspired Doncic’s transformation, pushing him to adopt a new approach to training and leadership.
What It Means for the Lakers
Getty Luka Doncic, Lebron James and Austin Reaves of the Los Angeles are committed to work on their chemistry.
Doncic has always put up numbers. But this version of him — leaner, sharper, and fully locked in — could be the one who changes the course of the Lakers’ future. At EuroBasket, he embraced a leadership role, constantly motivating teammates while carrying Slovenia with his play.
The question is no longer if Doncic can carry this into the NBA — it’s how far he can take it. With LeBron James in the twilight of his career, the Lakers have already begun shifting toward a new era built around Doncic. If he sustains this level of focus and fitness, the franchise’s future belongs to him.
For now, Germany moves on to face Finland in the semifinals. Doncic returns to Los Angeles, where all eyes will be on how his slim-down translates into wins with the Lakers.
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