The biggest criticism toward Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic heading into this offseason was he appeared slow and out of shape last year.
It was such an obvious flaw in Doncic's game that some cited it as a reason the Dallas Mavericks traded him away. ESPN insider Tim MacMahon shared shortly after the Doncic-Anthony Davis swap that "The Mavs had major concerns about moving forward with Luka Doncic due to his constant conditioning issues and the looming commitment of another supermax contract extension this summer."
The doubt from Dallas' front office as well as constant complaints from fans were clearly enough to motivate the 26-year-old guard. Many pictures of Doncic appearing much slimmer have surfaced this summer, but the five-time All-Star isn't convinced it will have a substantial impact on his play.
"Honestly, nothing different. Just probably less tired, a little bit quicker," Doncic said, per BasketNews. "Nothing specific. At the end of the day, I want to win games and help my team achieve more."
Doncic's offensive skillset is far from reliant on athleticism or explosiveness. He much prefers to break his opponents down slowly or simply create separation with a move or two on the outside. However, some fans are yearning to see the return of the rookie version of Doncic, who had a handful of highlight reel dunks.
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Despite the former Rookie of the Year downplaying his weight loss journey, it still shrinks the list of reasons why the Lakers could come up short. A lack of depth and LeBron James beginning to seriously regress remain the most prominent factors in Los Angeles failing to reach the biggest stage.
The good news is the Lakers' front office has plenty of years to fix the roster around Doncic, especially after he signed a three-year, $165 million extension with the team. Meanwhile, James likely has at most two more years playing in L.A.
So, the huge light at the end of the tunnel for the Lakers fanbase is Doncic's desire to push himself matters far more than a present lack of depth or James' performance level next season.
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