When the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers last season, one of the “rumored explanations” was due to his weight and conditioning. There were plenty of rumors about how Luka looked overweight during the season. But if we look at the official numbers, they tell a different story. There were plenty of reports about how Doncic got skinny and lost a lot of weight this summer. But did he? Or did he put on some muscles? Let’s take a look.

Luka Doncic’s Weight Listing Doesn’t Match the Eye Test

Yesterday, the Lakers announced their official training camp roster. One thing that stands out is Luka’s weight. He is officially listed at 244 lbs. At first, there is nothing wrong with that. But if you compare it to the official statement from the Mavs last season, we have a mystery. Last season, ahead of training camp, the Mavericks listed Doncic at 230 lbs. That means that he has actually gained weight from the beginning of last season to this season.

Luka put on 14 pounds from last season I’m crying pic.twitter.com/Go5ZSeGeEY

— 🐦‍🔥 (@MilroeToJSN) September 29, 2025

So, did Luka actually lose weight? Or was his physical transformation more about gaining muscles? Well, while there is no official listing, the reality is different. The Mavericks listed Luka at 230 lbs when he was a rookie, and they have likely not updated that. There were reports during last season that he reached 270 lbs at one point.

No matter what the reality is, the Lakers are happy with how Luka looks ahead of the season. The eye test shows a clearly slimmer, quicker, and more agile Doncic. During the FIBA 2025 EuroBasket, he was even nominated for a Defensive Player Award. That is all thanks to his improved conditioning.

Luka Doncic Talks Weight and Conditioning

There was no doubt that there will be questions about his conditioning and weight during media day. Asked what was the difference he felt during the EuroBasket with his slimmer body, Doncic said,

“I would say probably way less tired, you know, a little bit quicker, like I said. Obviously, in Europe, there’s a 40-minute game. In the NBA, it is 48. But we play a lot of games in not so many days. So I think fatigue, you know, fatigue is the biggest thing for me right now.”

To be honest, Luka did look tired during last year’s playoffs. There were plenty of situations where he couldn’t react to defensive assignments due to being tired. Fans were even joking about his conditioning on social media.

Can the Lakers Win With Skinny Luka?

The Lakers have climbed up in the championship odds in recent days. One might say it is because the Houston Rockets have fallen following the Fred VanVleet injury. But right now, the Lakers have the third-best odds in the Western Conference to win the championship, and the fifth-best overall at +1,400. Only the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Denver Nuggets have better odds in the West.

Lakers fans should remember the 2023-24 season. That was the season when Luka finished in the top three in MVP voting. What is interesting is that it was also after a summer playing with the Slovenian National team. There is something about Luka that he comes back to the league more focused and driven after playing for Slovenia.

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