Luka Doncic‘s move to the Los Angeles Lakers drew sharp criticism, largely over his physical conditioning, which initially hindered his best performance. During the offseason, the Slovenian star showed remarkable dedication, improving his physical form. In light of these efforts, a former Celtics champion recently made a bold prediction about Doncic’s 2025-26 NBA season, capturing the attention of fans everywhere.
“I know it’s early for hot takes, but damn it, I’m going out on a limb early in this summertime and I’m gonna say I’m betting on Luka Doncic to win the MVP next season. This is the type of commitment that I wanna see from a great player like Luka,” Kendrick Perkins said, via ESPN.
According to Dan Woike of The Athletic, Luka has adopted a rigorous diet and cardio regimen, foregoing his typical vacation-filled offseason. While the specifics of his weight loss remain undisclosed, it appears he now weighs noticeably less than the 230 pounds listed during last season with the Lakers. Woike also noted that the Slovenian star aims to be in peak condition for EuroBasket, debuting on August 28 against Poland.
Luka Doncic quietly embracing JJ Redick’s ‘championship shape’ challenge ahead the new season
After Lakers’ elimination by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2025 NBA playoffs, head coach JJ Redick expressed immense pride in his team. Despite initial doubts about his ability to quickly mesh the roster, he successfully integrated Dorian Finney-Smith and Luka Doncic, both of whom excelled and kept the team competitive. However, he did critique the team’s overall commitment to physical conditioning.
“I’ll start with the offseason and the work that’s required in an offseason to be in championship shape and we have a ways to go as a roster. And certainly there were individuals that were in phenomenal shape. There’s certainly other ones that could have been in better shape. It’s where my mind goes immediately is we have to get in championship shape,” JJ Redick said in the press conference.
Instead of taking these words as a direct attack, Doncic managed to motivate himself to get back into top physical shape. In the 2023-24 season, Luka had his best individual season, averaging 33.9 points and showing what he can be at his pick shape. Now, his task will be to maintain this physical condition for many years in the NBA, seeking to achieve dominance like Stephen Curry or LeBron James have done.
Luka Doncic’s first season with the Lakers was already a promising turning point
Despite facing criticism from various media outlets, Luka Doncic stayed focused on making an impact with the Los Angeles Lakers. Over 28 games, he averaged 28.2 points, surpassing Anthony Davis’ previous average of 25.2 points before his trade, proving himself as an exceptional player.
Not only did he excel in scoring but also in playmaking, with averages of 7.5 assists and 8.1 rebounds per game. While these stats are not his career best, they are impressive for JJ Redick’s team. If he maintains his new physical condition, Luka could become even more dominant in his quest for a championship and his first MVP award.