The Los Angeles Lakers are making moves that show Luka Doncic is not just another regular player; it is clear that they are building around him completely. Marc Stein revealed on X that Los Angeles hired Jeremy Holsopple, Doncic’s former strength and conditioning coach from when his time with the Dallas Mavericks.
The Lakers are hiring Jeremy Holsopple as their new head strength and conditioning coach, @TheSteinLine has learned.
As Dallas’ athletic performance director, Holsopple was named as the NBA's top strength and conditioning coach in March 2021.
More NBA: https://t.co/6DCqjEwAvw
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) August 11, 2025
Lakers bring back Doncic’s trusted trainer to boost longevity
This hire is not some sort of coincidence; it is a deliberate signal the Lakers want to support Doncic’s body and career like no other team has. Holsopple was a mainstay in Dallas for over a decade and helped shape Doncic’s training routines since he arrived in the NBA.
After the 2024 NBA Finals loss against the Boston Celtics, the Mavericks fired him along with other key staff. It was a controversial shakeup.
ESPN explained, “[Mavericks] fired former director of player health and performance Casey Smith. ... The Mavs fired strength coach Jeremy Holsopple and manual therapist Casey Spangler. All three had been with the team since before Doncic was drafted and had strong relationships with him.”
Dallas wanted Doncic to adjust his habits, but the plan did not work. Instead, it broke one of the few trusted connections Doncic had with the organization and led to a stunning blockbuster trade centered around sending him to Los Angeles and Anthony Davis over to the Mavs.
The Lakers are taking a different approach. They are surrounding Doncic with people he trusts and wants. Beyond Holsopple, they signed Marcus Smart, a player Doncic really favored. They were also able to bring in big man Deandre Ayton, another guy Doncic asked for.
More importantly, they secured Doncic on a fresh three-year contract. They even placed assistant coach Greg St. Jean on Slovenia’s national team staff to keep a Lakers presence close during international competitions.
Doncic entered the offseason looking leaner and sharper. He looks so in shape that even Men’s Health Magazine chose him to be on the cover. With Holsopple now leading the Lakers’ strength and conditioning, the hope is that this progress is not just temporary but the start of a new chapter in Doncic’s career.
This hire just might be one of the Lakers’ most important of the offseason. This is not a depth player, but this move shows a commitment not just to Doncic’s talent, but to his health and longevity. This is an investment in the foundation of the team’s future.