Luka Doncic Keeps Losing Weight For The Los Angeles Lakers While Gaining Momentum Toward $369 Million

Forbes

3 days ago

NEW YORK, NY - JULY 28: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees and Luka Doncic #77 of the Los ... More Angeles Lakers pose for a photo before the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on July 28, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by New)
Who is this dude?
'Just visually, I would say my whole body looks better,' said Luka Doncic, normally the 6-foot-6 version of the Pillsbury Doughboy, delivering one of the understatements of the century to writers in the latest edition of Men's Health magazine.
Doncic has done this dieting thing before, and he also his thrown in a few pushups along the way, but this is different.
This is serious, and this is dramatic.
The Men's Health writers mentioned how Doncic – as the future face of the Los Angeles Lakers over some guy named LeBron James – has spent most of his days this summer 'going from heavy Romanian deadlifts to dumbbell bench presses to lateral bounds, one right after the other.'
Where is this coming from, especially since Doncic could float through the rest of his NBA career as pudgy but potent? He is just 26, but he already ranks among the all-time Europeon hoop stars from his Slovian days, and he is flirting with first-ballot status in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Oh, that's right.
Doncic knows Saturday is approaching.
That's when a thinner (much, much, much thinner) version of Doncic will have a better chance of positioning himself on that NBA deadline day for a $369 million contract in three years with the Lakers.
Here's how: Doncic could accept a four-year deal with the Lakers for $222 million. Or he could take three years for around $160 million with a player option in 2028-29, and then he would qualify for a five-year contract worth that $369 million due to the NBA salary cap expected to rise that season.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 10: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after ... More committing his third foul during the third quarter of a game against the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena on February 10, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by)
What all that means for Doncic in search of longevity (We're back to that $369 million) is to say goodbye to puffy arms, face and everything else.
Suddenly, courtesy of two-a-day workouts hinting of trying to bring those old NFL training camp days to the NBA – combined with a gluten-free diet that turns sweets into the devil and makes almond milk as important as breathing – Doncic looks like somebody else.
He looks like somebody in shape.
More importantly, Doncic doesn't look like the guy who always had his game weight for the Mavericks listed as 230 pounds, when it was obvious to anybody with eyes that either the team was lying or the scales.
During the opening 6 1/2 years in the NBA of Luka Magic, when Doncic dribbled for the Maverick after he became the third overall pick in the 2018 draft, he often seemed ready to bolt the court for the concession stands.
He could play, though, and he also could dominate. As a result, his NBA resume features 2018 NBA Rookie of the Year honors, a 2024 league scoring title and five trips to the All-Star Game. He has averarged nearly a triple-double (28.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, 8.2 assists) per game throughout his seven seasons.
Even so, during a nationally televised game in December 2021, Basketball Hall of Famer and TNT announcer Reggie Miller couldn't care less that Doncic was heading for 28 points, six rebounds and nine assists. He said Doncic was 'plodding up and down the court' and declared he 'has got to trim down."
Miller wasn't alone.
Those who run the Mavericks never did their impression of Dean Vernon Wormer chastising Flounder in the movie 'Animal House.' In other words, they never yanked off their glasses before calling Doncic 'fat, dumb and stupid.'
They came close.
They said Doncic was fat.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MAY 09: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts during the fourth ... More quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Two of the Western Conference Second Round Playoffs at Paycom Center on May 09, 2024 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by)
Then, during the middle of last season, the Mavericks shocked the solar system by trading Doncic – along with the remainder of the five-year super max contract they gave him in 2021 worth $207 million – to the Lakers.
To hear Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison tell it, his team primarily swapped Doncic for 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis and peace of mind.
"I'll say this again: Defense wins championships," Harrison told Dallas-area media in April, suggesting the defense thing and the fat thing were the reasons he was willing to suffer the wrath of the Luka-loving folks who dominate their fan base.
When the Mavericks held a NBA Draft party last month at American Airlines Center, where they play their home games, thousands of fans chanted 'Fire Nico Harrison' to the top of their lungs, and that was despite the Mavericks winning the No. 1 pick in the draft and grabbing Duke sensation Cooper Flagg.
Poor Harrison.
Then again, with the thinner (much, much, much thinner) version of Doncic these days, Harrison had a point. Doncic also remained invisible on defense with the Lakers, so Harrison had another point.
But it's like this for Doncic.
With $369 million within reach, he has more important things to think about, such as banded jab steps and medicine balls.