Luka Doncic’s arrival in Los Angeles wasn’t exactly a honeymoon for the ex-Dallas Mavericks star as critics questioned his fitness. Doncic joined a Lakers roster built to win now, but he was far from optimum condition.
Veteran analyst Kendrick Perkins didn’t hold back, recalling that he once labeled the star guard “fat and out of shape.” But the narrative flipped fast as Luka showed up to camp leaner, meaner, and ready to rumble.
“It was valid,” Perkins admitted on Perk Unplugged. “We know he could score buckets… but we needed to see it in other areas.” With brutal honesty, he described the preseason outlook: “I want to see a Luka Doncic sprinting back on defense. That’s the Luka I want to see.”
Fast-forward a few weeks and the transformation is impossible to ignore. Heavy training, strict nutrition, and a men’s health magazine spread later, Perkins is now calling him “skinny Luka” and an early front-runner for MVP.
As he put it: “In shape, he’s going to score… but damn it, we need to see it in other areas.” And by other areas, the league-wide power forward meant defense, energy, and hustle.
A leaner Luka is a problem
Perkins’s shift in tone reflects more than physical change – it speaks to Luka’s reassessment of his image and impact. Photos on social media show a noticeably slimmer and more defined frame.
A new diet centered around low sugar and 250g of daily protein, along with rigorous workouts, helped him shed 31 pounds this offseason. And now, Doncic i’s not just a scoring machine – he’s a two-way force in the making.
Anticipation is reaching fever pitch. An anonymous NBA scout recently told DallasHoopsJournal.com, “He’s quicker and more explosive… I think he’s going to win MVP and the scoring title next season.”
That prediction aligns with Perkins’s bold claim: Luka is poised to dominate on both ends. The Lakers clearly think so too, locking him in on a three-year, $165 million extension.
Doncic’s turnaround can change Lakers’ fortunes
Beyond the gym gains, Luka’s mindset appears transformed. Perkins credits him for harnessing criticism – like Kevin Garnett encouraged – and using it as fuel. “He took the disrespect to heart,” Perkins said.
Still, the Lakers have unfinished business. Their season ended abruptly in the first playoff round, exposing defensive gaps and depth issues. Analysts such as Charles Barkley and Perkins had warned that even elite scoring wouldn’t be enough without dedication.
Luka’s changes arrive at a critical moment. With the aging LeBron James counting down his tenure and the Lakers seeking to return to championship heights, they need a new leader – one embodying resilience, adaptability, and winning habits.
If Perkins’s praise and the scout’s predictions hold, the Lakers may have just found the MVP-season renaissance they-and their fans-have been waiting for.
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