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Luka Doncic's body transformation has been a top NBA storyline this offseason. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar will show off his improved physique when he stars for Slovenia at the upcoming Eurobasket 2025. Lakers assistant coach Greg St. Jean, who joined Slovenia's staff ahead of the competition, said Doncic's body is far from a finished product.
“I think it's still a work in progress,” St. Jean told BasketNews. “I think the summer's not over yet. And he's going to continue to get better. I think we'll continue to see as he gets more in-game shape with some rhythm. He's been doing a lot of training, and now he's going to be playing five-on-five competition. His game last week [the conversation took place on Friday] was the first time he's played five-on-five in a long time. So it's a work in progress. We'll continue to see him play more and more, and as the tournament progresses, and then getting ready for the Lakers season.”
Concerns about Doncic's commitment to his body were the driving force behind his bombshell trade from the Dallas Mavericks. The five-time All-Star was sidelined by a calf injury at the time of the deal and looked out of shape upon his return to the Lakers' lineup.
Lakers assistant coach opens up on Luka Doncic's body transformation
Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists over 28 appearances with the Lakers. However, he shot just 43.8 percent from the field, the lowest mark since his rookie season. His defense remained a glaring negative, particularly during the Lakers' first-round loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
With LeBron James entering his age-41 season, the Lakers have handed the keys to their organization to Doncic. They signed the Slovenian star to a three-year, $165 million contract extension that will keep him in Los Angeles through at least 2027-28.
There will be no shortage of pressure facing Doncic as he steps in as the face of one of the NBA's most storied franchises. His ability to work himself back into shape and remain dedicated to his body will remain a topic of discussion throughout the coming season.
“I think he's done a fantastic job working hard the entire summer,” St. Jean said. “And that's something that we're going to wait and see. But that's the goal, right, is for him to continue to be able to push and play. He's somebody who plays a lot of heavy minutes, and he carries a heavy load. So that's going to be important for him as he continues to improve his conditioning. But we're really proud of him and he's done a great job so far.”
