"It's the same thing": Lakers coach makes sensational Luka Doncic-Michael Jordan comparison over body transformation 

"It
"It's the same thing": Lakers coach makes sensational Luka Doncic-Michael Jordan comparison over body transformation (Image Source: IMAGN)

LA Lakers assistant coach Nate McMillan has compared Luka Doncic's drastic body transformation to Michael Jordan's in 1990.

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The Chicago Bulls suffered three consecutive playoff losses to the Detroit Pistons, as they had no answer to the physicality of the Isaiah Thomas-led team. Jordan, however, decided to take matters into his own hands and committed to adding more muscle to cope with the Pistons' brute force.

Doncic, meanwhile, has adopted a new offseason routine amid criticism of his conditioning. He has reportedly lost around 30 pounds and revamped his diet in an effort to get in peak shape.

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While addressing Doncic's transformation on "The Sports Shop with Reese+KMac" on Wednesday, McMillan said:

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"He (Doncic) looks fantastic and with everything that's happened in the past year, it's a challenge for him. And I've seen this before in the NBA. ... It's just like Michael (Jordan), Michael makes the comment years ago that the Pistons just beat him up. So, he had to get into the weight room. It's the same thing with Luka. ...
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"You've played a certain way for a number of years and been successful doing it. But if you want to continue to improve and be one of the great players in this game, you have to continue to improve your game and work on your game and work on your body."
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Doncic is a five-time first-team All-NBA member and has just as many All-Star nods. However, a championship and MVP are still not on his resume. While his game is elite, his conditioning has limited him, but that could change going forward.

Luka Doncic will find out his new ceiling soon

Luka Doncic has discussed his transformation in interviews with Men's Health and Today. However, the Slovenian is unaware of what this change would mean in basketball terms. He hasn't tested himself enough in a five-on-five setting yet.

Nevertheless, Friday would give him his first opportunity to do so when he represents Slovenia in a 2025 EuroBasket preparation game. Doncic has a competitive tournament to test his endurance and conditioning, which can help him prepare for the gruelling 82-game NBA season, which tips off this fall.

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Edited by Arhaan Raje
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