The Los Angeles Lakers acquired Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks in February in one of the biggest trades in sports history.
Multiple reports stated that the Mavericks traded Doncic because they weren’t pleased with his conditioning, weight issues and lack of defensive skills.
Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists with the Lakers in the regular season after the Mavericks traded him in February. The future Hall of Famer then put up 30.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game in the 2025 playoffs. The Lakers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round in five games and Doncic was picked on by Minnesota on defense. Doncic is one of the best offensive players in the NBA.
However, you can make a case that he’s one of the worst defenders in the league.
Pictures and video emerged this past weekend of Doncic looking skinnier while watching a Real Madrid game. Lakers veteran Markieff Morris, who is close with Doncic, gave his take about Doncic looking thinner on First Take with Stephen A. Smith.
“When you’re eating hotel food, you’re getting in at 3 o’clock in the morning in different cities, you have to eat at 4 o’clock in the morning with a back-to-back,” Morris said. “All that stuff takes a toll on your body. The stress of being in a long season, the stress of being traded midseason, it’s just the things he went through last year.
“He’s back in Madrid, I know how he likes Madrid. We were in Madrid last year with the team. He’s back in his environment, he’s having a great time, and right now, I don’t even think he’s worried about anything. I just think he’s happy this season is over. I don’t think he’s happy how this season ended, but I think he’s happy it’s over.
“He’s going to regroup. Like Stephen A. said, when you’re in the summer, you’re eating that good food, you got that regiment, you got that chef. Anything is possible when it comes to losing weight.”
