After the Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated in the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs, Luka Doncic immediately began doing two-a-day workouts to get into better shape.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick challenged his team to improve their physique this offseason, and Doncic has made that a top priority as he enters his first full year in L.A.
The early results have been stunning as Luka appears to be in the best shape of his life, which is a scary proposition for the rest of the league.
Doncic said he has tried to emulate two of the greatest NBA players of all-time in Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant with his training regimen, via Andrew Heffernan and Ebenezer Samuel of Men’s Health:
Dončić also saw the same qualities from two players he’s long admired, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, both of whom were known for their maniacal offseason training regimens—and their dominance late into their careers. “MJ and Kobe, you know, they really did a lot in their careers,” he says. “They sacrificed a lot.”
When the Lakers traded for Doncic last season, it was with the intention of making him the face of him of their franchise.
Considering that the five-time All-Star was already considered one of the best players in the world before his new training approach, the team has to be thrilled with his potential going into the 2025-26 season.
Along with getting into better shape, Doncic has been an active recruiter for the Lakers this offseason and reportedly helped them sign both Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart in free agency. The superstar is eligible for an extension on Aug. 2 and all indications are that he will sign it.
Luka Doncic believes vertical jump has improved
In the same interview with Men’s Health, Luka Doncic stated that he feels he can jump even higher now than when he was a rookie.
“This year, we didn’t measure the jumping yet,” he says. “But I think it’s a little bit higher.”
If Doncic can return to getting to the basket at a high rate then that will make the Lakers’ offense even tougher for opposing defenses. Not only will they have to deal with the threat of Doncic as a driver and shooter, but they will also have to worry about the other shooting threats he can pass to on the floor like LeBron James, Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura, plus a legit offensive interior presence with Deandre Ayton.
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