Latest news with #conditioning
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Luka Doncic comments on his physical transformation this summer
We're not even halfway through the summer or the NBA offseason, and yet Luka Doncic is looking like a new man already. Many have commented on some photos and videos of him that have surfaced in which he looks a lot fitter and trimmer than he had looked in the recent past. Doncic has been criticized for his lack of fitness and conditioning, especially after the Dallas Mavericks traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 1, and it looks like he has taken that negative feedback to heart. He has reportedly stuck to a disciplined workout and diet regimen that he began right after the Lakers were knocked out of the first round of the playoffs. Men's Health magazine featured a couple of pieces on Monday that detailed Doncic's health and fitness program, and in one of those pieces, he commented on what has taken place. 'Just visually, I would say my whole body looks better,' he says. Doncic is visually trim and defined these days, and yet some may still be skeptical that he has truly changed his ways. It isn't easy to stick to a stringent diet during the long NBA season, especially given the limited meal options during the league's killer travel schedule when players may have to subsist on fast food and room service. But he also hinted that this is just the beginning of a fitter and trimmer version of himself. 'If I stop now,' Dončić says of his effort to rebuild his body, 'it was all for nothing.' The Slovenian has never been known for his athleticism, at least in a classic sense. But during his first one or two seasons in the NBA, he was quicker and more explosive than he has been in recent seasons. He now feels that at least one facet of his athletic ability has improved. 'This year, we didn't measure the jumping yet,' he says. 'But I think it's a little bit higher.' Some reports have claimed that Doncic clocked in with a 42-inch vertical leap during the 2018 scouting combine. Those reports were erroneous — Doncic wasn't even in attendance at the NBA's scouting combine that year. But as long as he keeps up his new fitness and conditioning program — and from all his comments, that is clearly his long-term plan — he could become a huge nightmare for the rest of the NBA. Perhaps no one has seen the best of Doncic yet, despite his career averages of 28.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.2 assists a game. This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Luka Doncic comments on his physical transformation this summer
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Luka Doncic started doing two-a-day workouts after Lakers lost in 2025 NBA Playoffs
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. This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Luka Doncic started doing two-a-day workouts after 2025 playoffs
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Luka Doncic Wants To Follow Michael Jordan And Kobe Bryant's Training Regimen: "They Sacrificed A Lot"
Luka Doncic Wants To Follow Michael Jordan And Kobe Bryant's Training Regimen: "They Sacrificed A Lot" originally appeared on Fadeaway World. Luka Doncic is on track for a revenge season, one that will be defined by proving several critics wrong. Having taken the onus of working on his conditioning, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar has committed himself to the grind. In a recent interview, he also revealed what was driving him to do so. While speaking with Men's Health magazine's Andrew Heffernan and Ebenezer Samuel, he claimed he drew inspiration from Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. He said: "MJ and Kobe, you know, they really did a lot in their careers. They sacrificed a lot." Both Jordan and Bryant had a single-minded obsession with perfection in everything they did. Their mentality and approach towards the offseason was a systematic effort in gaining an edge, bringing them one step closer to dominating their opponent on the court. Their drive allowed them to soar to great heights. But to do so, they had to be dedicated to their offseason preparation. The Lakers guard has very evidently taken a page from their book, as the results of his offseason conditioning speak for themselves. Doncic mentioned that he hopes to be dominant for a long time to come, as he stands on the verge of his physical prime. When speaking about his goals, he said: "Obviously, be the best that I can be, take care of myself. This year, with my team, I think we did a huge step. But this is just the start, you know. I need to keep going. Can't stop.' Last season, Doncic's arrival was greeted with a blend of enthusiasm and skepticism. While his offensive brilliance has been acknowledged by the masses, several question marks were raised about his ability to defend. Mavericks GM Nico Harrison cited Doncic's poor conditioning as a key reason behind the shocking decision to move on from their franchise cornerstone. Several used this as a basis for his poor defensive performances. His shortcomings were exploited in the playoffs and magnified by the media, paving the way for critics to question his health and fitness. After an early-playoff exit marked the end of the season for the Purple and Gold, the media didn't hold back in criticizing the guard for being a liability. By the looks of it, however, the guard used that criticism as fuel for the offseason. Apart from his conditioning, the Lakers superstar has been vital in facilitating the team's offseason acquisitions. Having played an active role in recruiting Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart, it is abundantly clear that Doncic is looking to make a comeback with a vengeance. The 26-year-old is committed to the Lakers, with the intention of bringing a championship to Los Angeles, a city that demands excellence and reveres legends. With MVP expectations on his shoulders, the Slovenian is primed to etch his name into Lakers lore. Currently preparing to represent Slovenia at the EuroBasket tournament, Doncic will return to Los Angeles for a Jordan brand event before heading back to his home story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Luka Doncic: 'Just visually, I would say my whole body looks better'
Nothing motivates the greats quite like the quest to prove someone wrong. When the Dallas Mavericks shocked the NBA by trading Luka Doncic to the Lakers, it was followed up by spin out of Dallas about GM Nico Harrison and the franchise's concerns about Doncic's lack of commitment to conditioning, taking care of his body and defense. This summer, we have seen "skinny" Luka on social media as he works out to get in shape. Doncic spoke about that with Men's Health Magazine. " Just visually, I would say my whole body looks better... "Every summer I try my best to work on different things. Obviously, I'm very competitive. This summer was just a little bit different, you know. It kind of motivated me to be even better... "Obviously, be the best that I can be, take care of myself. This year, with my team, I think we did a huge step. But this is just the start, you know. I need to keep going. Can't stop." The Mavericks were not wrong to have concerns about Doncic's conditioning, it certainly has not been consistent throughout his career. (It's still a massive leap from having concerns to trading a top-five player in the world as he enters his prime because of it.) Doncic has improved his conditioning in the past, but due to injuries and other reasons, it has never stayed at the level Dallas' Harrison — a Kobe Bryant guy — expected. What should scare the Mavericks is that they have just become the motivation he needed to genuinely change. If the disrespect from Dallas, combined with being on a new team and watching LeBron James' commitment to his body and conditioning daily, changes Doncic's habits, then the Mavericks have unleashed a monster on the league. Doncic had spent the summer back in Europe with family and friends, but landed back in the United States in the last 48 hours for a Jordan Brand promotional shoe tour. After that tour, he returns to Slovenia to lead his national team in the EuroBasket that starts at the end of this month. Doncic is eligible for a contract extension this summer: On Aug. 2, the Lakers can offer him a four-year, $223 million extension. They will, and Doncic is expected to re-sign with the team, although most likely on a three-year, $165 million max contract (or three plus a player option) because in three years he will have reached 10 years of service in the league and then can sign for up to 35% of the salary cap (the most the Lakers could offer right now is 30%). Expect that deal to be finalized before the season starts (possibly this week, while he is in the USA on a shoe tour, or perhaps closer to Lakers training camp).
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Lakers star Luka Dončić on offseason workouts, conditioning: 'My whole body looks better'
You can't criticize Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Dončić for much. After being the No. 3 overall draft pick in 2018, Dončić won the Rookie of the Year award. He then proceeded to make the first team All-NBA team in five of his first seven seasons. But despite that excellence, Dončić has never received high marks for his conditioning. He's been criticized for coming into the season out of shape and not taking care of his body in the same manner as other NBA superstars. Those concerns seem to be a thing of the past. After weeks of rumors about Dončić's offseason workouts and conditioning, the 26-year-old finally spoke about the work he's put in, saying, "My whole body looks better." Dončić has adopted a gluten-free, low sugar diet, taken part in intermittent fasting and engaged in two-a-day workouts while training in Croatia for the upcoming 2025-26 NBA season, per Men's Health. It's all an attempt for Dončić to return to the court in better shape than ever. While conditioning issues have followed Dončić throughout his career, last year was different. He battled a calf injury which limited him to just 50 games. A midseason trade to the Lakers also shook things up for the superstar. Following the Lakers' early playoff exit to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Dončić wanted to get to work immediately, per Men's Health. One day after that loss, Dončić texted Seager to start his offseason training program ASAP. 'So every summer I try my best to work on different things," he says. "Obviously, I'm very competitive. This summer was just a little bit different, you know. It kind of motivated me to be even better.' His team put him through weight training and pushed him into other sports as a way to allow Dončić to rest his basketball muscles. Dončić was told he could not pick up a basketball during the first month, something he initially pushed back on. That month ended quickly, and Dončić was able to get back on the court. While he didn't make any specific comments about his weight or weight loss, Dončić implied that he feels lighter. When asked about the 42-inch vertical leap he showed off at the 2018 NBA Scouting Combine, Dončić said he believes he could exceed that number now, per Men's Health. 'This year, we didn't measure the jumping yet,' he says. 'But I think it's a little bit higher.' It's tough to imagine Dončić getting much better on the court. Few players in NBA history have matched his statistical excellence, though he's yet to win a championship. Following the Lakers' early playoff exit, head coach JJ Redick made waves after suggesting the team needed to "get in championship shape" if it hoped to win a title. Many viewed that as a shot at Dončić' and his conditioning. Whether or not the remark was intended for Dončić, he heard it loud and clear. It certainly sounds like Dončić will report to Lakers camp in the best shape of his life. It also sounds like this will be the new normal for Dončić going forward, as he told Men's Health this was "just the start." That's a scary thought for opposing defenders. Dončić was already an MVP candidate prior to his intense offseason workouts. If he can push himself to finally win the award, that could be just the thing the Lakers need to take home yet another championship.
