Recent photos of Luka Doncic have sparked widespread discussion about his physique, with some fans questioning whether the Los Angeles Lakers star has become “too slim” ahead of the 2025/26 NBA season.
In a stunning 180 pivot on the narrative from the Dallas Mavericks, the 26-year-old now has to defend claims he’s at sub-optimal weight, this time for being too small.
During the 2025 NBA Playoffs, critics targeted his weight and defense, particularly after the Lakers‘ first-round loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves and it was reportedly a factor as to why the Mav’s Nico Harrison let the European go.
Yet despite the speculation, the talented Slovenian has insisted he is in peak physical condition and prepared for the demands of the year ahead as he and LeBron James look to bring an NBA championship to the Crypto.com Arena for the first time since 2020.
In that pursuit, his offseason plan has gone beyond traditional basketball workouts as he incorporated racquet sports for agility, took a step back from daily basketball drills to focus on overall conditioning, and followed a stricter regimen than in previous years.
“I know how much basketball means to me. It has given me a lot in my life,” Doncic told reporters via Slovenia’s Svet24. “But I also like to play other sports.
“The first three or four days were hard for me without basketball, but then I just got used to it.
“At first, basically everything, but it’s a matter of habit. After I got used to it, nothing was particularly difficult.”
As a result, the 6ft 8in player now looks noticeably leaner, especially around the face, after posting photos on social media and while many applauded the transformation, some supporters expressed worry that the weight loss may have cost him muscle mass.
One fan wrote online, “Aight he looks a lil too slim?”
A second said, “I saw this picture and thought it was photoshopped.”
And a third claimed, “No. He didn’t lose muscle mass with this. Man was 80% pudge last year.”
Doncic pens future to Lakers
Doncic‘s commitment to remaining in peak shape has also coincided with a major financial stake in his career’s next chapter as he pens a three-year, $165 million contract extension with the Lakers.
The team is counting on Luka‘s improved conditioning to translate into consistent, elite-level performances through the regular season and postseason to form a formidable partnership alongside LeBron.
Currently, the Lakers guard is now preparing with Slovenia’s national team for EuroBasket, beginning with a matchup against Germany in a warm-up game, which will take place on August 8.
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