3 days ago
Luka Doncic Looks Slimmed Down After Modifying Diet And Undergoing Special Indoor Training
Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic was back at his old stomping grounds recently. Doncic was at Movistar Arena in Madrid, Spain, on Sunday for the game between his former team, Real Madrid, and Coviran Granada, and he looked in great shape.
Doncic sat with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez and got a great reception from the crowd. The Slovenian led Madrid to the EuroLeague title in 2018 and won MVP in the process.
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Lakers fans would be hoping Doncic can lead their team to glory as well, and his being in this kind of shape bodes well for the future. The five-time All-Star's conditioning, or lack thereof, has been the biggest talking point about him since the Dallas Mavericks shipped him to the Lakers.
There had been murmurs about Doncic turning over a new leaf this offseason, and it appears that has indeed been the case. As for what the 26-year-old has been up to following the Lakers' first-round exit at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Sport Klub's Martin Pavcnik revealed the steps that he has taken.
"In the first phase of the long period between the seasons, Doncic dedicated himself to transforming his body in Ljubljana, which includes both guided indoor conditioning and a modified diet. The first physical results are already very clearly visible, and the measurement results are also encouraging."
They are indeed visible. There was this notion that the Mavericks trading Doncic would light a fire under him, and that could have happened. All the shots that had been fired via the media about his bad habits and attitude would have only served as additional motivation.
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Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game for the Lakers in 2024-25. He wasn't quite at his best in the postseason, but he was still LA's best player offensively.
Doncic put up 30.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game against the Timberwolves. You wonder how much better he will be next season, when he does get to have a training camp with this group. His life on the court should also be made easier if the Lakers get a quality starting-caliber big man this offseason.
Before we get to see Doncic suit up for the Lakers, though, it looks like we will see him in action in Europe. ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported that the guard will be playing for Slovenia at EuroBasket.
"He will spend the summer playing for the Slovenian men's national basketball team at EuroBasket, sources said. He'll be accompanied by members of his "body team" - Slovenian national team strength coach Anze Mazek and physiotherapist Javier Barrio Calvo - throughout the offseason."
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The presence of Anze Mazek and Javier Barrio might also explain why Doncic looks in good shape at the moment. It will be very interesting to see how he looks on the opening night of the 2025-26 season.
Doncic has been the MVP favorite coming into a season a couple of times in his career, but has never come very close to winning the award. Could 2026 be the year when that changes? Well, the Lakers and their fans would certainly be hoping that proves to be the case.
Related: James Worthy Reveals What Went Wrong For The Lakers In Their First Season With Luka Doncic
