Lakers star shows his change in mentality in his first offseason after the blockbuster trade.
One of the biggest red flags for NBA star Luka Doncic is his increasingly questionable work ethic. Following his trade from the Dallas Mavericks, his commitment to training and conditioning has been called into doubt, but he's hoping for a clear slate in Dallas. Already, the revenge arc has begun for Doncic, who was recently captured in the gym, putting in the work to deliver his best season yet for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Doncic, who has been exposed for his poor conditioning habits, has been described as overweight and out of shape throughout his career, and experts have been calling for him to slim down for years. He seemingly never got the message until this February, when the Mavericks cited it as the main reason for their trade.
So for Doncic to be in the gym like this, putting in work during the offseason, speaks to his level of dedication to disproving the narrative and showing the world that he's committed to being the best version of himself.
"Been following him for 8 years," wrote a long-time Luka fan on his training routine. "This is the first time he has started training in the summertime early. He usually start late July/early August so yes, this is actually different from the past 7 years of his NBA career."
It's unwise to jump to any conclusions based on one video, but, at the very least, it's a good sign of Luka's thought process this summer after a shocking change during the season. Now, fans think Doncic is on the verge of the best stretch of his career.
"This trade could end up being the best thing for him, I said he could be a top 5-10 player of all time, if he takes his fitness and conditioning seriously, I’m so happy he is I hope it keeps up," wrote a fan on X.
Of course, now that Luka is putting in the work, the pressure falls on the Lakers to build him a team that can help him compete for the championship in 2026.
"Luka is doing his part, the Lakers FO should do there part by assembling a roster that can compete with capable depth," a Lakers fan noted. "If they don’t put up a very good roster, it doesn’t matter how fit or conditioned is, a better roster will always win. Don’t waste a player of this quality."
In the end, this all comes back to the Mavericks. Perhaps if they had waited a few more years or tried to get through to Luka in a different way, he could have become the leader they wanted. Instead, they'll have to watch him dominate with the Lakers with a renewed sense of passion and motivation.
"Ahhhh he’s real deal putting the work in, shoutout to Nico," one Lakers fan joked.
With averages of 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game on 43.8% shooting this season, Doncic was already one of the best in the league. Still, there are several areas of improvement, especially on the defensive end, where he ranks as one of the worst guards in the league.
But if Doncic (5x All-Star) can get in shape this summer and keep his body in the best condition from start to finish, it may be exactly what he needs to take the next step up and improve his play on both ends of the floor. This is the dream scenario for the Lakers, and they believe that Doncic is ready to prove why the Mavericks made a huge mistake letting him go in the first place.
