Unless you live under a rock, you know that Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic lost weight this offseason. The five-time All-Star went on a gluten-free, low-sugar diet, according to Men’s Health, and does an intermittent fasting plan designed to limit inflammation and help his body recover better.
Doncic and Slovenia faced Germany in a EuroBasket friendly on August 8 and Doncic played well, finishing with 19 points and five assists in 24 minutes of action. One NBA scout who was in attendance to watch the game told Lakers Daily that Doncic looks more “explosive” after transforming his body this offseason.
“He looks really good,” the scout said. “I walked past him and didn’t even recognize him. He looks thin, fit and strong. He’s more explosive now. He’s getting by people easier. He looks how he looked when he came into the NBA with Dallas in 2018.
“I know he’s lost weight in the offseason before and then put it back on during the season, but this is different. One of his teammates told me he’s on a revenge tour next season. He’s pissed that Dallas basically told the world that he was fat.”
The Dallas Mavericks traded Doncic to the Lakers in February because Nico Harrison had issues with Doncic’s diet, weight, work ethic and conditioning. Doncic was devastated when the trade happened and threw his phone.
However, the future Hall of Famer has fully moved on from the trade. He signed a three-year, $165 million extension with the Lakers on August 2 and is motivated to lead the franchise to the championship next season.
Los Angeles lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 postseason in five games, but Doncic played good offensively, averaging 30.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists despite being “out of shape.” If Doncic put up those stellar numbers when he was “fat” and “slow,” Lakers fans are certainly in for a show every night next season now that the 26-year-old is in elite shape.
Doncic enters next season with career averages of 28.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.2 assists with the Mavericks and Lakers. He’s already third in NBA history in points per game, trailing only Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain.