Paul Pierce cast doubt on Luka Doncic’s offseason weight loss, saying it won’t last. He argues Doncic’s elite production makes physical conditioning less relevant and says the Lakers should build around him, not expect him to change his body.
Luka Doncic’s offseason weight loss has sparked buzz, but Paul Pierce isn’t convinced. After the Los Angeles Lakers’ early playoff exit at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves, scrutiny over Doncic’s conditioning and defensive liabilities intensified.
Photos surfaced this summer showing the five-time All-Star looking noticeably slimmer, leading some fans to praise his supposed transformation and renewed dedication. However, Pierce sees the narrative as familiar — and overhyped.
Speaking on his podcast “The Ticket and The Truth”, Pierce pushed back on the idea that Doncic’s leaner frame will make a meaningful difference over the long grind of the NBA season.
“Just because he lost 10 or 15 pounds, he looked the part, that means what? He’s gonna average 38 (points) and eight (assists per game). That doesn’t mean he gonna be a better defender; that’s not that. He might give you a little more hustle (while) getting back on defense,” Pierce said.
“But you gotta understand: you gotta take something to get something, right? For instance, I got a dominant a– Shaq that can’t make free throws, I’m taking that. I got Luka giving me 38 and eight; let me get some motherf—rs around him that can do that then.”
Pierce emphasized that the real issue isn’t Doncic’s aesthetics but how the team is constructed around him.
“By December, when they ain’t practicing no more, you gonna see the same Luka as the last five years,” Pierce predicted.
Pierce argued that Doncic remains one of the few players in the league who can dominate without elite athleticism, and that the Lakers front office should stop hoping for a complete physical transformation and instead build around Doncic’s strengths — especially on offense.
