Luka Doncic Credits 2024 Finals Grind for Off-Season Fitness Overhaul
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Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic says the grueling minutes he logged during the Dallas Mavericks’ 2024 NBA Finals appearance convinced him to reshape his body last summer.
Speaking with former teammate Dirk Nowitzki on “NBA on Prime,” Doncic, 26, recalled how the championship push exposed a gap in his conditioning. “It kind of started in that Finals run. I felt like I was missing a little bit,” he said. “Obviously last season was hard for me, a lot of things going on. I’m 26 years old and I got a long ways ahead of me. So it just kind of started there.”
The Slovenian star averaged 40.9 minutes over 22 postseason games in 2024, then logged 38.8 minutes per contest during the five-game Finals. Determined to handle that workload more effectively, he trimmed down noticeably in the off-season, even landing on the cover of Men’s Health to detail his routine.
Doncic’s lighter frame was evident while playing for Slovenia at FIBA EuroBasket and in the Lakers’ first two games this season. Alongside LeBron James and Austin Reaves, he remains Los Angeles’ primary playmaker, but improved stamina is expected to help him manage late-game and late-season demands.
The Lakers will be without Doncic for roughly a week because of finger and lower-leg injuries suffered after those opening contests. The team anticipates his quick return as it aims for a deep playoff run.
Source: Lakers Nation
