Luka Doncic started doing two-a-day workouts after Lakers lost in 2025 NBA Playoffs

USA Today

17 hours ago

For months and perhaps years, Luka Doncic has been criticized for his lack of fitness and conditioning. A good amount of that criticism seemed to come from the Dallas Mavericks after they traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 1, perhaps as their attempt to justify what most considered a brain-dead trade.
But by all accounts, ever since the Lakers lost in the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs, Doncic has been working hard to get into the best shape he has been in since early in his career. He looks noticeably slimmer this summer, and according to one report, he has been "incredibly committed to his conditioning" while adopting a strict diet.
Javier Barrio, a physiotherapist, told Men's Health magazine that Doncic started doing two workouts a day with trainer Anze Macek right after the Minnesota Timberwolves eliminated the Lakers, and that he wanted to start transforming his body right then and there.
"His goal this year?" wrote Andrew Heffernan. "Come into his first full season as a Laker in the best shape of his life. In three months.
"No big deal.
"Macek took charge of the workouts—except Sundays, Dončić hit two per day, with plenty of lifting, mobility, and court drills. But fueling the 6'7' point guard as he underwent this Rocky-style transformation may have been an even tougher job: a chemistry experiment where all the elements not only had to fulfill a specific function, but also taste great and make sense to Luka as he learned the ropes of performance nutrition. 'He's 26, and it's a learning process,' says Barrio.
"It helped that their client was motivated. Luka's final game with the Lakers was April 30th; days later he was on the plane to his native Slovenia. 'He arrived May fifth, and said, I want to start immediately,' recalls Barrio. And he did: right around the time you'd forgive a pro athlete for kicking back with pizza and a few beers, Luka went low-carb."
Doncic reportedly had a habit of enjoying his beer and hookah over the years. But he has apparently accepted a more balanced diet and health regimen, especially after all the playoff losses he has endured through seven NBA seasons.
It was just one calendar year ago that Doncic and the Mavericks lost in the championship series to the Boston Celtics, which made it clear that he wasn't well-conditioned enough to take home basketball's grand prize. The criticism hit a crescendo when the Lakers fell flat on their faces in the playoffs a few months ago, and it seemed to culminate with coach JJ Redick telling the media that the team needed to get into "championship shape."
Most interpreted that comment as being directed squarely at Doncic, even though Redick never mentioned Doncic by name when making the comment. But the Slovenian superstar is apparently doing his part, and it could mean lots of trouble for the rest of the league.