Luka Doncic, Lakers
Getty
Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic of Slovenia reacts on the court.
The Los Angeles Lakers can now heave a sigh of relief after their franchise star Luka Dončić dodged a serious injury in an exhibition match between Slovenia and Latvia on Aug. 16.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Dončić has been diagnosed with a right knee contusion, citing sources briefed on the situation. The injury he sustained “is not believed to be serious.”
Dončić’s Slovenian teammate, Gregor Hrovat, fell on his right knee during the third quarter of the match, which Latvia won 100-88. The Lakers guard immediately grabbed his right leg and asked to be subbed out.
Dončić was accompanied by a Slovenian staff member into the locker room. But he returned to the bench shortly after, much to the delight of the crowd.
Despite the injury scare, Dončić led Slovenia in the losing effort with 26 points on 5-of-11 3-point shooting with five assists and two steals.
His former Dallas Mavericks co-star Kristaps Porzingis, now with the Atlanta Hawks, led the Latvians with 20 points and six rebounds. Davis Bertans added 16 points for Latvia.
Life-Changing Injury-Riddled Season
Luka Doncic, Lakers
GettyLos Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic endured an injury-riddled season.
Dončić’s outstanding conditioning this offseason may have played a part in him avoiding serious injury this time.
Last season, Dončić missed a career-high 22 consecutive games with a calf injury in December, which the Mavericks believed he could have avoided if he had not been out of shape.
By the time he returned, he was no longer a Maverick as he was shockingly traded to the Lakers on Feb. 2 for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick.
Part of the reason why Dončić was traded was due to the Mavericks’ frustrations over his poor conditioning and lifestyle habits.
Shortly after the trade, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reported that the Mavericks had major concerns about moving forward with the Slovenian star due to his constant conditioning issues and the looming commitment of another supermax contract extension this summer, citing sources.
Lakers Committed to Their New Franchise Star
The Lakers had no qualms locking up Dončić long-term, giving him a three-year, $165 million deal earlier this summer.
Dončić responded to the criticisms about his poor conditioning by committing to a new diet that caused him to lose a staggering 31 lbs., according to Slovenian Pop TV.
In a magazine cover interview for Men’s Health, Dončić revealed that he’s doing 16 hours of intermittent fasting six days a week since the season ended.
This offseason, every day but Sunday, Doncic fasts from 8:30 PM to 12 noon the following day. That’s 16 hours with nary a calorie, with the first workout of each day performed at the end of the fasting window.
As part of his new diet, Dončić consumes only a gluten-free, low-sugar diet, including “at least 250 grams of protein and one almond milk–fueled shake a day.”
Dončić has also incorporated plant-based foods into his new diet. He took a month off from playing basketball, which he admitted was hard at first, to give his mind and body the much-needed time to recover.
His offseason regimen will continue into the season, Doncic said, which leads him to believe he will be much better than the out-of-shape version of himself who averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists in 28 games for the Lakers last season.
“I would just say a little bit of everything,” Doncic told reporters on what a skinny version of himself will bring to the Lakers next season. “Obviously, a little bit faster. But I don’t know, just trying to help the team condition-wise. Obviously, playing a lot of minutes, a lot of games, so I think that’s going to be the best for me.”
The Lakers have also hired strength and conditioning coachJeremy Holsopple, who worked closely with Dončić in Dallas, Stein previously reported.
Holsopple was named theNBA’s top strength and conditioning coach in March 2021.