Last season, Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison looked at Luka Doncic, decided he was out of shape, injury-prone, and maybe a little too into postgame meals. Harrison hit the trade button in a shocking blockbuster deal.
Five months later, Doncic is gracing the cover of Men’s Health. Seriously, if karma had a personal trainer, it might look like this.
Nico Harrison really traded Luka Doncic away for being out of shape, and then 5 months later became the cover star for Men's Health 😂 pic.twitter.com/SL4HO7hrwR
— Underdog (@Underdog) July 28, 2025
“Obviously, I'm very competitive,” Doncic told Men’s Health Magazine. “This summer was just a little bit different, you know. It kind of motivated me to be even better.”
Doncic’s colossal transformation is turning heads
While Dallas was moving on, Doncic was locking in. In Croatia, he followed a strict daily routine: two workouts a day, a gluten-free and low-sugar diet, and more than 250 grams of protein daily to rebuild his frame.
He adopted intermittent fasting, cutting off meals at 8:30 p.m. and not eating again until noon. It is clear he does not just want a surface-level fix; he is fully committed to reshaping his body.
“Just visually, I would say my whole body looks better,” Doncic said.
Dallas mismanages a generational talent’s potential
Harrison, at the time, traded away a 25-year-old generational talent because he didn’t like how Doncic looked in February. Granted, Doncic only played 50 games due to a nagging calf injury.
But what did the Mavs expect, a ripped Doncic with a six-pack playing 40-plus minutes a night on one leg? Instead of being patient, they hit eject, and now it can come back to haunt Harrison even more.
Now, Doncic says he has taken a 'huge step' forward with his health. He was even confident his vertical improved. That is wild considering he’s built his entire game off footwork and touch, not bounce.
Doncic’s intense training shows how serious he is
Doncic is studying the training habits of Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. He is clearly motivated and locked in, and he is not just trying to get back; he is trying to dominate.
Meanwhile, somewhere in Dallas, Harrison is probably googling 'how to fix biggest trade regrets' while flipping through Men’s Health on his phone.
The truth is, Dallas did not trade Doncic; they traded a version of him who is about to dominate. The Lakers got the real deal, a superstar with a new body, fresh motivation, and a massive chip on his shoulder. That is exactly the kind of player you just do not want to bet against.