The Los Angeles Lakers made one of the biggest trades in NBA history before the trade deadline, acquiring Luka Doncic in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and draft picks.
However, the Lakers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, falling to the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games. The early exit sparked criticism from fans who questioned whether Doncic was in peak physical condition to compete at the highest level, despite his solid production.
After the series, Lakers head coach JJ Redick emphasized that the team needs to be in “championship shape.” While he didn’t name names, many took the comments as a clear message to Doncic, who is expected to be the franchise’s centerpiece for years to come.
Now, weeks after the playoff exit, Doncic made his first significant public appearance by attending a Real Madrid basketball game in Spain on Sunday. His noticeably improved physical condition drew plenty of attention, especially after he later shared two photos of himself working out at the Real Madrid facility wearing Lakers gear.
Fans were stunned by his drastic change just a few weeks into the offseason:
"Bruh it’s still crazy lol," a fan said.
Another fan posted, "Lakers really got him on ozempic."
"Demon wow," someone else added.
One more fan commented, "MVP YEAR LOADING…"
Apr 19, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) warms up prior to the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) warms up prior to the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
At just 26 years old, Doncic has already earned five All-NBA First Team selections in his young career. Despite facing some early setbacks in 2025 due to a calf strain on Christmas Day—which also marked his final game with the Mavericks—he still managed impressive averages of 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists, and 1.6 steals per game.
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka’s plan remains to build the team around Doncic. This offseason will be particularly intriguing as the franchise looks to bolster the roster to fit Doncic’s style—shifting the focus more toward him than LeBron James, who has been the cornerstone since joining the team in 2018.
"When you make a huge trade at the deadline where you trade your starting center for a point guard, of course, that's going to create significant issues with the roster," Pelinka said. "We saw some of those play out. One of our primary goals is going to be to add size to our front court at the center position."
He added, "I think this offseason there is going to be a lot of movement around the NBA. There are so many aggressive leaders of organizations that are expecting (immediate) success. I think there will be a lot of opportunities for [us] to look at. I’m excited about what will come our way."