Luka Dončić Reportedly Makes Big Change in Physical Appearance

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Rodney Knuppel | Last updated Jun 24, 2025 12:30 PM ET

The 2024-25 NBA season just wrapped up with the Oklahoma City Thunder defeating the Indiana Pacers in a thrilling seven-game series. With the offseason underway and the NBA Draft approaching, the league is buzzing with new storylines.

One of the biggest headlines late in the season was the pairing of Luka Dončić and LeBron James on the same team. We got a glimpse of the duo during the stretch run and playoffs, but the 2025-26 season will be the first full year of this superstar tandem.

Dončić appears to be preparing early. Reports say he's locked in this summer, following a strict conditioning plan. Dan Woike of "The Athletic" recently posted:

"Is slim Luka Dončić returning? Dončić has been incredibly committed to his conditioning this offseason, writes @DanWoikeSports."

Is slim Luka Dončić returning

Dončić has been incredibly committed to his conditioning this offseason, writes @DanWoikeSports.

He’s dropped significant weight and is working on strict diet and cardio training, according to a source with knowledge of the plan. In a shift from… pic.twitter.com/SsNQnA1xbl
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) June 24, 2025

Woike added further details about Doncic’s offseason approach:

“He’s dropped significant weight and is working on a strict diet and cardio training, according to a source with knowledge of the plan. In a shift from his normal offseason, he spent a month away from on-court work to focus more on his body. Dončić has looked visibly slimmer in photos and is now back working out with Slovenia, readying for EuroBasket competition later this summer.”

Less than a season after leading the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA finals, Dončić was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. The blockbuster deal was finalized on Feb. 2, and he debuted on Feb. 10.

In his first playoff game with Los Angeles, Dončić scored 37 points against the Timberwolves, but the Lakers fell short. Minnesota eliminated the team in five games. Dončić averaged 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game in the regular season. In the playoffs, he averaged 30.2 points per game across five games.

If this offseason transformation holds, the Lakers may be poised for a deep run with a more conditioned and motivated Dončić leading the way.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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