Lakers’ Luka Dončić: ‘Just Visually, I Would Say My Whole Body Looks Better’

Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić spoke about his body transformation with Men’s Health and the five-time NBA All-Star said he can “visually” see that his body looks better. 

“Just visually, I would say my whole body looks better,” Luka Dončić said. “If I stop now, it was all for nothing.”

The Dallas Mavericks traded Dončić to the Lakers last season because general manager Nico Harrison didn’t like Dončić’s diet, conditioning or weight.

Dončić, who is expected to sign an extension with Los Angeles soon, is very motivated to quiet his critics. 

“So every summer I try my best to work on different things,” Dončić said. “Obviously, I’m very competitive. This summer was just a little bit different, you know. It kind of motivated me to be even better.”

The Lakers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 playoffs despite having Dončić and LeBron James. Dončić has been very busy this offseason, as he recruited Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart to Los Angeles. 

Dončić enters next season with career averages of 28.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.2 assists with the Mavericks and Lakers. He guided Dallas to the NBA Finals in 2024, but the Boston Celtics beat the Mavericks in five games.

“Obviously, be the best that I can be, take care of myself,” Dončić said. “This year, with my team, I think we did a huge step. But this is just the start, you know. I need to keep going. Can’t stop.”

Dončić is on a gluten-free, low-sugar diet that includes at least 250 grams of protein and one almond milk–fueled shake a day. The future Hall of Famer averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists with the Lakers last season and 30.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists in the 2025 playoffs.

If Dončić put up those numbers while he was “fat” and “out of shape,” he would win the MVP next season now that he’s skinny and in shape. 

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