"Why didn’t he do this while with the Mavs": Lakers fans fired up as Luka Doncic's commits to physical transformation with strict routine

Luka Doncic was the centerpiece of a blockbuster midseason trade as the Dallas Mavericks shipped him to the LA Lakers for Anthony Davis. According to the Mavericks, the trade was triggered by concerns about Doncic’s conditioning, body of work, and apparent lack of defensive acumen.

Now, the narrative may have changed as Doncic’s body was seen to have transformed since the Lakers ended their season early in the first round. In a photo posted by Slovenian media, Luka Doncic looked skinnier as a considerable amount of weight seemed to have been shed in the past month.

NBA fans were then fired up about Doncic’s physical transformation. While Lakers fans showed optimism on his new body, others questioned why he did not do this while he was still playing for the Mavericks.

"So why didn’t he do this while with the Mavs?….smh," one fan wrote.

"When you get traded for conditioning and being called fat, you gonna have to prove them wrong," another fan said.

"Every off season it’s the same thing," said one fan.

Other fans expressed their excitement at seeing Luke Doncic shed some weight, but hoped that his body would continue to stay the same while adding muscle during the offseason.

"MVP is so obvious," another fan wrote.

"Next is to build muscle 💪," said one fan.

"we actually getting thin Luka wow," wrote one fan.

The picture was taken during a Real Madrid game against Coviran Granada in the Regular League. Doncic pulled up in the venue in a fit white t-shirt that made him look far slimmer than his 230-pound frame during the 2024-25 season.

Last season, Luka Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game to help the Lakers secure the third seed during the regular season in the Western Conference. However, the team lost in the first round against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are now playing in the Western Conference Finals.

The trade came less than a year after Doncic steered the Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2024, where they lost to the eventual champions Boston Celtics.

Since the trade, Doncic is seen to be the next face of LA for the foreseeable future.

Luka Doncic denies weight issues while being with the Mavericks

The main criticism of Luka Doncic has been his weight, but he has since denied it following the massive trade that brought him to LA last February.

"It's a motive. I know it's not true, but it's a motive. I came here to one of the biggest clubs in the history of sports, but it's a big motive in the long run," the Lakers star said last March.

With an extended offseason, Doncic is expected to return with a chip on his shoulder next season as he looks to bring the Lakers back to glory alongside 40-year-old superstar LeBron James.