Lakers’ Luka Doncic Reveals Truth Behind Body Transformation

Just months after joining the Los Angeles Lakers, Luka Doncic has had a busy offseason. Along with signing a three-year extension with the Lakers, Doncic also underwent a surprising offseason transformation in which he expects to be in the best shape of his NBA career. 

According to Slovenian news outlet Epika, Doncic revealed the one aspect of his life that played the biggest part in his getting into better shape. 

“What drove me? Basically, we made a slightly different training plan,” Doncic said. “Well, I had a little more time. Last summer was really tiring. I played until June, then the national team, so there was no energy. This year I had more time.”

Before being traded to the Lakers, Doncic led the Dallas Mavericks to the 2024 NBA Finals, playing through late June, followed by national team play later in the summer. The 26-year-old credited recent time off as one of the biggest reasons for his body transformation, with Los Angeles last playing in early May. 

Doncic Ready For Next Season

Whether it was being featured on the Men’s Health magazine cover, signing a new contract, or the Lakers fully giving him the reins to the team, Doncic looks ready to lead the franchise as their newest superstar. 

Though Los Angeles didn’t make any ground-breaking moves over the offseason to acquire All-Star caliber players, Doncic expects them to compete for titles every year going forward. 

“I don’t want to wait,“ Doncic reportedly said to Lakers’ general manager Rob Pelinka and head coach J.J. Redick. “I had a taste of the Finals. I am getting back there. So let’s do whatever we can now.”

He echoed that statement in the press conference confirming his three-year $165 million contract extension. 

“I think we have a great team, we have what we need to compete for the championship,” Doncic said. “I’ll try to win every game no matter what and we’ve got some new great guys on the team, so you know we’re going to go for it.”

As of now, Doncic expects to lead the Lakers going forward. While LeBron James remains steeped in rumors and speculation about his future, whether in Los Angeles or somewhere else, Doncic’s extension proves he is in for the long haul.

Lakers ‘Supported‘ Him Playing For Slovenia

While Doncic did say that having national team obligations was a factor in his health status last summer, he affirmed that the Lakers were supportive of him going across the Atlantic Ocean this summer to play for the Slovenian national team in the EuroBasket tournament. 

“They support me, they really support me and encourage me to the maximum,” Doncic said. 

While he’s also had one of the busiest 12 months of nearly any basketball player in the world, Doncic also said that there were some initial concerns, but he always wanted to play for Slovenia this summer.

“There were some concerns, but in the end I think we all knew that I would play,” Doncic added. “As I’ve said many times, if I can, I will always play, so the decision wasn’t difficult.”

Doncic expects to be the number one option for the Lakers going forward. After seeing his body transformation, they likely feel even better about the decision to offer him the extension. Last year, Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists, and 1.6 steals on 43.8% shooting once he was traded to Los Angeles. 

With a career average of 28.6 points per game, he ranks third all-time in NBA history in that category, behind only Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain. As the Lakers head into the second half of the decade with one star in the twilight of his career, Doncic looks to be just entering his prime.