“I’ve heard from folks that are pretty honest that Luka has already begun a clean slate, starting anew, in this mindset of changing a lot about himself,” said NBA reporter Jason Gallagher during a recent episode of The Dumb Zone. One cannot simply be good at shooting the ball to maintain a spot in the NBA. To compete against the best of the best, a player needs to take care of their conditioning to ensure they can maintain peak athletic performance throughout long games and seasons.
Especially an NBA season, which lasts for at least 82 games per team. Luka Doncic is already regarded as of the best players of the modern NBA. Despite this, he has an extra reason to improve his conditioning for the next season.
It was less than 4 weeks ago when the Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated after losing 4 out of 5 games against the Minnesota Timberwolves. However, that seems to have been enough time for the Slovenian to bring about a change in his conditioning. As pictures of his recent appearance at a Real Madrid basketball game in Spain started making rounds on the internet, remarks like “Already looking lean,y’all not ready for this luka hammer”, and “Luka not fat no more” filled up the comments section.
This would cause one to ask: What conditioning plan helped Luka lose so much weight in so little time? Without any further ado, let us dive into the answer.
What is Luka Doncic’s training routine?
According to ‘CEO Today’ Magazine, Luka Doncic’s fitness routine is divided into strength training, cardio, and skill development. All of them are especially custom-tailored to enhance his performance.
As part of his strength training, Luka Doncic reportedly focuses on heavyweight, low-repetition sets that bring out the most of his muscle engagement. This approach is useful for maintaining agility and resilience on the court. After all, the more power is built, the more a player can get through those bigs to attack at the paint.
One certainly cannot make do without cardio. Scorers like Luka especially need that boosted endurance for drives. Therefore, to keep up with basketball’s fast-paced nature, Luka incorporates significant cardio in his daily exercise regimen.
The added benefit of cardio is that it also aids in weight management, which, if the reports from the last few months are to be believed, is something several critics and analysts have urged the Slovenian to work on. “He didn’t like being called out for his weight and other things, and it finally clicked that there’s a level of discipline that’s required,” said then Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban back in 2022.
3 years later, the principle still applies.
Feb 10, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) and guard Austin Reaves (15) react after a basket against the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
When talking about skill development, you would think that Luka Doncic plays in the NBA, so how much more does he need to work on his skills? Well, even legends like Kobe Bryant had to work on their skill development. The Black Mamba’s reasoning for incorporating this into his workout routine was, “I just think European players are just way more skillful. They are just taught the game the right way at an early age. … They’re more skillful. It’s something we really have to fix. We really have to address that. We have to teach our kids to play the right way.” As a European player, Luka Doncic certainly has to hold the standard high.
Therefore, the Mavericks-turned-Lakers star has to include unique dribbling variations in his training to become a better ball-handler. Regular sparring in practice sessions further refines his passing skills and keeps them at an elite level.
When it comes to his diet, Luka reportedly consumes foods that are rich in protein and low in carbohydrates. Good fats like Omega-3s are a part of that. The meals include everything from chicken, rice, and vegetables to provide the necessary nutrients for muscle repair and energy.
However, both fans and critics of the Slovenian know that Luka’s diet does not solely consist of that. That is why he is so often criticized. That is why he was reportedly traded away from the Dallas Mavericks, and that is why he is putting in extra effort in his conditioning this time around.
Why is Luka Doncic going through physical transformation?
Despite all the things for which Luka Doncic is praised, there is one point of criticism that has continued to live on for many years now: his weight. Charles Barkley described it best when he said, “We really live in a world where the 2 best basketball players on planet Earth are slightly overweight white guys. What a time to be alive.”
When Luka Doncic was sent to the Los Angeles Lakers in one of the most shocking trade deals in NBA history, one question was asked: Why? Well, reports started to point out that concerns were raised regarding the player’s weight and overall health. As reported by ‘The Smoking Cuban’ reporter Sam Allred, Doncic had a history of showing up to training camp out of shape. On top of that, the Jordan brand athlete also engaged in smoking hookahs and drinking beer. Not necessarily bad habits, but not something that is deemed worthy for an athlete.
Nico Harrison, often deemed as the ‘villain’ of the Luka Doncic trade, repeatedly attacked Doncic’s conditioning after the trade to justify his decision. However, he wasn’t the only one to attack the player over his weight. Former Boston Celtics champion Kendrick Perkins also once said that “Luka’s biggest issue has to be addressed in the offseason. He’s out of shape. He needs to lose weight… That’s not gonna happen no time soon”.
After all, it was claimed that Luka’s weight gain reached 270 pounds (122.5 kg) at one point this year. This would have tied him for the heaviest NBA player in the modern era.
Slovenian media:
“In the first phase of the long period between the seasons, Dončić, dedicated himself to transforming his body in Ljubljana, which includes both guided indoor conditioning and a modified diet. The first physical results are already very clearly visible, and the… pic.twitter.com/A2KMukYMXr
— Luka Updates (@LukaUpdates) May 26, 2025
In his report back in late February, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported that Luka had not publicly commented on the flow of leaks from the Mavs that criticized his weight and conditioning. However, one source close to Dončić told ESPN the comments have served as a motivator. In his/her words, “A beast was awakened inside him”. The efforts of that beast helped the Lakers make it to the first round of the playoffs, but not further than that.
However, given his efforts and his progress till now, LeBron James and company might just play with a different form of Luka Doncic next season. Let us know your thoughts in the comments section down below.
The post What Is Luka Doncic’s Conditioning Plan? Exploring Lakers Star’s Training Routine Amid Physical Transformation appeared first on EssentiallySports.