Luka Doncic may be in the best shape of his life. It is what he did not say in a recent Men’s Health feature that could be creating tension, particularly with his Los Angeles Lakers teammate, LeBron James.
When asked about the players who inspired his offseason work, Doncic listed Dirk Nowitzki, Michael Jordan, and Kobe Bryant. Noticeably left out? LeBron.
Doncic’s brutally honest quote just made things awkward for LeBron
In the feature written by Andrew Heffernan and Ebenezer Samuel, Doncic reflected on his early NBA experience: “When he thinks back to his rookie year, he remembers seeing Mavs legend Dirk Nowitzki, then in his final season in Dallas, training hard,” they wrote.
Doncic added, “MJ and Kobe, you know, they really did a lot in their careers. They sacrificed a lot.”
There is absolutely no doubt that Dirk, MJ, and Kobe are worthy of praise. Each built a legacy on work ethic, championship success, and relentless offseason training.
But to talk about sacrifice and longevity and not mention LeBron, someone widely viewed as the gold standard in those kinds of categories, feels like it could be more than just a simple oversight.
At 40 years old, James is still doing things most players can’t in their early 20s. He has not only remained one of the most skilled players in the league but has also committed to spending around $1 million dollars each year to preserving his body.
His regimen includes cold plunges, cryotherapy, hyperbaric chambers, red light therapy, one of the strictest diets in pro sports, you name it. It is part of what has allowed him to remain elite over an unprecedented 22-year career, with 23 in near sight.
So what gives? Was Doncic just naming some of his childhood heroes? Was this a subtle shot at LeBron’s leadership or work ethic? Or did the new face of the Lakers simply forget to mention the current one?
It is pretty hard to know for sure. Anytime a rising star heaps praise on former legends and skips over a current teammate of LeBron’s stature, it is definitely going to get noticed, especially in a city like Los Angeles.
Still, Lakers fans have plenty of reason to be excited. Doncic is leaner, more focused, and clearly locked in heading into the season. He has definitely been putting in the work. But that quote? It might make things just a little more awkward in the locker room.