Luka: 'My whole body looks better' ahead of 1st full season with Lakers
Star Luka Doncic says he's taken a "huge step" in improving his conditioning ahead of his first full campaign with the Los Angeles Lakers following a blockbuster in-season trade from the Dallas Mavericks.
"Just visually, I would say my whole body looks better," Doncic told Men's Health magazine's Andrew Heffernan and Ebenezer Samuel in an article published Monday.
The 26-year-old has been working out with a trainer and physiotherapist for the past two months in Croatia while adhering to a strict gluten-free and low-sugar diet.
"If I stop now," Doncic said about offseason efforts to enhance his health and conditioning, "it was all for nothing."
A calf injury and other minor setbacks limited Doncic to 50 games between the Lakers and Mavericks in 2024-25 - his first season playing fewer than 60 contests across his seven-year NBA career.
Doncic's conditioning reportedly factored into general manager Nico Harrison and the Mavericks' decision to move the five-time All-NBA first-team selection. Lakers coach JJ Redick also said after L.A.'s first-round playoff exit against the Minnesota Timberwolves that the roster needed to get into "championship shape" over the offseason.
"Every summer I try my best to work on different things," Doncic told Men's Health. "Obviously, I'm very competitive. This summer was just a little bit different, you know. It kind of motivated me to be even better."
Doncic added, "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."
The five-time All-Star said he drew inspiration from Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant for his offseason workouts, pointing out how the legendary pair "sacrificed a lot."
Doncic, the 2018 third overall pick and a former Rookie of the Year, admitted there's been a learning curve in understanding what's required to reach the game's upper echelon.
"When I came to the NBA, I was 18," Doncic said. "Honestly, I didn't know what to expect those first four or five years. Then I said, 'I need to do this.'"
Entering his eighth season, Doncic added that he hasn't felt this good in years, saying: "My sleeping, my body, my everything ... I felt more rested."
Doncic, who has a $48.9-million player option for 2026-27, is eligible to sign an extension with the Lakers on Aug. 2. Although he can't receive a super-max contract following the trade from Dallas, Doncic could agree to a short-term extension and position himself for a significant raise when he reaches 10 years of service time and qualifies for a higher maximum salary.