Many thought ESPN’s Shams Charania‘s X account was hacked when he broke the news of the Dallas Mavericks trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. Doncic himself thought he was part of an April Fool’s prank, and didn’t believe the story.
Nearly six months into the trade, Doncic is in the best shape of his life, after he was criticized heavily for his conditioning and fitness levels during the playoffs. Furthermore, some reports suggested that the Mavericks were unhappy with his offseason habits, not to mention his passion for “beer and hookah.”
The Atlantic’s Jemele Hill believes that the Mavericks trading Doncic was the “best thing that happened” to the Slovenian as it forced him to realign his priorities.
“Luka being traded is going to be the best thing that happened to his career,” the popular analyst wrote on X, while reacting to photos of Doncic’s body transformation.
“He showed he can be a great player in Dallas, but it’s possible he got complacent there. It’s a different standard in Los Angeles, and that is going to bring out (more) of his greatness.”
Luka Doncic 2.0 Is Here
Men’s Health documented Doncic’s 2025 offseason regimen, including new workout techniques and a new diet, that promises to help him in the 2025-26 season and beyond.
“Just visually, I would say my whole body looks better,” Doncic said of his new regimen. “My sleeping, my body, my everything…I felt more rested. Obviously, be the best that I can be, take care of myself.”
Doncic, who arrived in the United States as a 19-year-old, hinted that he was not given the proper fitness advice in Dallas and may have fallen into bad habits.
“Especially in the NBA, you travel almost all the time,” he said. “You’re never home. And for me, you know, after the season, going back home, it’s a big thing, you know. I see my friends, my family, I see everybody. So it’s not easy for sure.”
Doncic Keen to Silence Critics
Doncic continued, “When I came to the NBA, I was 18. Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect those first four or five years. Then I said, ‘I need to do this.’”
In his first year with the Lakers, Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 7.5 assists, helping his team clinch the second seed in the difficult Western Conference. However, his Lakers flamed out of the playoffs in the first round against the Timberwolves, following Doncic, who faced significant criticism for his conditioning.
Specifically, some blamed Doncic’s poor defense in the series against the Timberwolves.
“Luka can’t guard a chair,” TNT’s Charles Barkley said after Timberwolves players repeatedly blew past Doncic in Game 5 of the series. “Gotta get in better shape too,” Barkley declared. “You gotta get in shape to earn that money. He can’t guard anybody.”
Doncic seems poised to prove his naysayers wrong.
“This year, with my team, I think we did a huge step,” he said. “But this is just the start, you know. I need to keep going. Can’t stop.”
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