Zach Lowe on why Luka Doncic started to get in better shape

USA Today

2 days ago

Luka Doncic agreed to a three-year, $165 million contract extension on Saturday, which will ensure that, barring something strange, he will remain a member of the Los Angeles Lakers for at least the next three years.
The scene could be set for him to take his game to the next level and bring at least one NBA championship to the Lakers, especially now that he has gotten into noticeably better shape this offseason. It is believed that the criticism he has gotten in recent months, especially after the Dallas Mavericks traded him to L.A. in February, motivated Doncic to focus more on his fitness and conditioning.
But according to podcaster Zach Lowe, it was something else that flipped the switch for the Slovenian superstar, other than the shots people have been taking at him.
'That leg injury, that could have been the wake-up call on its own, separate from the trade," Lowe said. "That was really the first season of Luka's career that was derailed due to an injury that was probably in part related to his conditioning. And so maybe the wake-up call happens if he stays in Dallas.
'That said, I'm sure the trade and the subsequent sort of leaking bad stuff about Luka and his conditioning and his habits, I'm sure that didn't exactly hurt his motivational levels to get in shape.'
The leg injury Lowe is referring to was a calf strain Doncic sustained on Christmas Day this past season that forced him to miss about seven weeks of action. That downtime stretched over into his tenure with the Lakers and resulted in him missing a few more games after he was traded on Feb. 1.
Despite being out of shape and a bit hobbled the rest of the way, he still managed to average 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists a game during the regular season while with Los Angeles. The team was eliminated from the first round of the NBA playoffs in five games by the Minnesota Timberwolves despite claiming the third seed in the Western Conference.
The guard played in a total of 50 regular-season games this past season, which was more than 10 fewer than his previous career low in that category.
Now, Doncic could be poised to play the best basketball of his career moving forward while serving as the centerpiece of a Lakers roster that looks at least somewhat improved. For his part, he said that winning the championship is what motivated him to drop some weight and improve his fitness and conditioning.