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 [his manager Lara Beth] 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, and believes his vertical has vastly improved, too.
“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.
