When Luka Dončić was drafted into the league in 2018, he was the most athletic version of himself.
Since then, he has noticeably gained weight and has been criticized for his work ethic on and off the court.
This offseason, however, he seems to have transformed, looking like his old self.
Perhaps it is because he is now with the Los Angeles Lakers, or maybe it’s to get back at Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison, but one thing’s for certain: he has lost weight.
Some people aren’t buying it, though, including big-time ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith, who had quite the words for Dončić following his transformation.
“There’s a difference between getting in shape in the offseason and staying in shape during the season,” Smith said on ESPN’s First Take on Tuesday.
Smith is technically correct, and social media often highlights the positives from certain players to make them appear better.
And of course, Dončić’s schedule during the offseason is much clearer than it is during the season.
In this context, he seems more like a critic, especially now that Dončić has been featured in Men’s Health Magazine for his transformed physique.
His weight loss can likely be attributed to a new diet that includes gluten-free, low-sugar foods, intermittent fasting, and a daily intake of 250 grams of protein.
Dončić could use the criticism from Smith as motivation and continue to get in better shape, but one thing is for sure. He has one goal in mind heading into next season, and that is to prove all of his haters wrong.
