Former Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd recently commented on the progress of Luka Doncic, his former star player, as the guard prepares to lead in a new era with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Kidd praised Doncic’s offseason work on conditioning and skill development, noting improvements to his overall game.
“I think it’s great, what Luka’s done this summer, what he’s done with his body, his game has gotten better,” Kidd declared.
“We respect what Luka has done this summer. We wish him the best of luck. He’s on the other side. He’s gonna try to kick our butt, but we’re gonna try to kick his butt.”
A long-lasting friendship
Kidd coached Doncic for nearly four years, including a Western Conference championship run in 2024.
During that time, Kidd consistently highlighted Doncic’s strengths while addressing areas for improvement, including defensive effort, turnover management, conditioning, and composure in high-pressure situations.
Their professional relationship helped establish Doncic as one of the league’s most versatile and productive players, capable of controlling games as a primary ball handler and scorer.
Despite this success, the Mavericks traded Doncic to the Lakers in February 2025. The trade centered on acquiring All-NBA forward Anthony Davis and signaled a shift in Dallas’ long-term strategy.
Reports indicated that internal concerns regarding Doncic’s conditioning and injury history influenced the decision.
During his final season in Dallas, Doncic reportedly weighed close to 280 pounds, and his physical condition was linked to multiple injuries, including calf, ankle, knee, groin, quadriceps, and hamstring issues.
These factors contributed to the Mavericks’ reluctance to offer one of the league’s largest contracts at that time.
Doncic’s offseason focus and Lakers center role
Since joining the Lakers, Doncic has prioritized lower-body strength and overall fitness to reduce the risk of injury.
His offseason program focused on conditioning improvements aimed at sustaining performance and durability over a full NBA season.
During the preseason, Doncic played limited minutes as head coach JJ Redick managed his workload following EuroBasket, where Doncic led Slovenia to the quarterfinals and finished as the tournament’s top scorer with 34.7 points per game.
Doncic’s efforts culminated in a three-year, $165 million contract extension with the Lakers this summer. The deal reflects the organization’s confidence in his ability to lead the team and contribute at a high level while maintaining health.
His role with Los Angeles positions him as the centerpiece of the team’s offensive and leadership structure, tasked with driving championship contention.
Kidd’s comments underscore the respect that remains between the former coach and player despite their professional separation.
While Doncic moves forward with the Lakers, his development under Kidd continues to influence his approach to conditioning, leadership, and game preparation.
As the NBA season begins, attention will focus on how Doncic integrates into the Lakers’ system and manages his fitness to remain a consistent contributor. His offseason improvements indicate readiness to perform at an elite level while minimizing injury risk.
The combination of skill development, physical preparation, and experience under Kidd provides a foundation for Doncic to pursue both individual success and a title with Los Angeles.
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