When the Los Angeles Lakers landed Luka Doncic last season, it looked like a heist. But for the Dallas Mavericks, letting go of the All-NBA guard was less about giving up talent and more about regaining control. The “Doncic business” had become a burden, marked by recurring injuries and questionable conditioning.
No one seemed more caught off guard by the trade than Doncic himself. Following the Lakers' early playoff exit, the 26-year-old superstar has reportedly lost over 30 pounds, according to Slovenian POP TV, a striking shift from what pushed him out of Dallas.
“The biggest unknown is how the fact that he has lost as much as 14 kilograms (31 pounds) compared to last year,” the Slovenian POP TV broadcaster said.
Doncic finished last season at 230 pounds. Losing 31 pounds means he's roughly 200 pounds, which would be the lightest he's entered an NBA season.
A new three-year $165 million contract extension with the Lakers is the highlight of Doncic's summer. But his appearance on the cover of Men's Health is right up there as well.
The article details Doncic's physical transformation this offseason, including two-a-day workouts and at least 250 grams of protein a day. He put the training program in place just one day after the Lakers' first-round loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“So every summer I try my best to work on different things, “Doncic told Men's Health. “Obviously, I'm very competitive. This summer was just a little bit different, you know? It kind of motivated me to be even better.”
Better is scary. Doncic is the youngest player to record five All-NBA first-team selections, doing so in five of his first six NBA seasons.
The 2024-25 season was an off year by Doncic's standards. But he's an ascending superstar who will be leading a premier franchise for the foreseeable future.
If the weight loss can contribute to defensive improvement and increased stamina, Doncic could be the next Hall of Famer to play for the purple and gold.
