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While many wondered how Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic would adapt to his new surroundings after his trade from the Dallas Mavericks, Doncic's body transformation has headlined this summer's news cycle. Whether you want to paint it as revenge for the Mavericks' decision to trade him or a newfound focus, Luka is noticeably thinner ahead of his first full season with the Lakers.
Doncic's changes hadn't gone unnoticed by Slovenia basketball head coach Aleksander Sekulić. However, Doncic's changes go beyond his physical appearance, according to Sekulić, per Meridian Sport.
“Luka has changed the way he works, but whether he’s in better shape or not, we’ll see,” Sekulić said. “He can’t be at his peak right now – he’s only just started basketball-specific training. He’s not yet the real Dončić, and we all know what that looks like on the court. The most important thing is that Luka is very motivated, that he came here to do something special with the national team, and then be ready to start the new season.”
One NBA scout gushed over Doncic's new appearance, per Dallas Hoops Journal.
“Man, he looks incredible,” the scout said. “He's quicker and more explosive. He's getting by people more easily. I think he's on a mission, man.”
The scout even went as far as predicting Doncic to be an early MVP candidate and another major accolade ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.
“I think he's going to win MVP and the scoring title next season,” the scout said. “He wants to get revenge on Dallas for basically fat-shaming him.”
After the Mavericks pulled off the most shocking trade in NBA history by trading Doncic to Los Angeles instead of locking him into a supermax extension that many assumed would happen, he's now the face of the Lakers' future. They made that commitment official. The Lakers inked Doncic to a three-year extension, worth $165 million.
The hidden bonus of Luka Doncic, Lakers' $165 million extension
Lakers guard Luka Doncic's three-year extension wasn't the same kind of deal he would have received from the Mavericks had they never made last year's shocking trade. However, Doncic's next deal could keep him with the Lakers for possibly the rest of his NBA career, per NBA insider Marc Stein.
“Dončić will be eligible to have a full no-trade clause added to his next deal as long as he goes to unrestricted free agency and signs an all-new contract,” Stein reported.
The Lakers' first preseason matchup is against the Suns on October 3.
