Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic is already showing how his game is benefitting from his improved fitness and conditioning. He's taken center stage leading up to EuroBasket 2025, finding himself under the spotlight every time he's taken the court.
No one quite knows how Doncic's physical changes will impact his play in the NBA, but his performances in Europe have shown early signs of seismic shifts.
Doncic's slimmer frame was first revealed in an interview and photoshoot with Men's Health, and was quickly put on display on the court with Slovenia in EuroBasket preparation games. Early reactions were understandably optimistic, as there were clear signs of improvements in areas such as lateral agility, the quickness of his first step, and the sudden anture with which he could change directions.
Jason Timpf of Hoops Tonight provided insight into how that's translated to Doncic experiencing success on the court during the early stages of EuroBasket.
"His play type efficiency in the two friendlies have been off the charts for Slovenia. 1.16 points per possession, including passes, on 58 pick-and-rolls, ISOs, and post-ups. He's been excellent in all three categories. His jumper's been a bit off...it's always a rhythm thing. I actually expect him to have a good perimeter jump shooting season, driven by his improved conditioning. Step-back threes are all about getting separation and lift, and that can often become a problem when you tire out."
These are observations that many have made, but the data and perspective that Timpf provided offers insight into what Lakers fans have to look forward to in 2025-26.
Luka Doncic shows signs of improved quickness, conditioning, efficiency
Doncic is already one of the most accomplished players of his generation. He's a five-time All-NBA First Team honoree, a scoring champion, and a former Rookie of the Year who has led teams to the NBA Finals once and the Conference Finals twice.
With this in mind, raising the bar for Doncic requires the context that all he's yet to achieve is winning a title, an MVP, and improving his play on defense.
All three would be monumental feats that shouldn't be categorized as easy leaps to the next level, but it's important perspective nevertheless. That's exactly why the excitement over Doncic's physical changes is as palpable as it is, as the bar has already been set at a remarkable level.
If Doncic's summer changes last into and throughout the 2025-26 season, there's reason to believe he can reach a new level of his generational potential.
A better-conditioned Doncic should have more energy on defense and more left in the tank down the stretch of close games. He should also be able to drive with more efficiency, as his quickness can create more space and easier opportunities to convert in traffic.
Rather than having to rely on his size and strength, that should permit Doncic to finish without drawing contact—or perhaps even catch opponents off guard and draw less physically-taxing fouls.
The key for Doncic will be figuring out what his ideal playing weight actually is. He doesn't want to lose so much muscle that he loses the strength that he so often utilizes to his advantage, but he must still cut enough to maintain the ideal levels of energy on both ends of the floor.
It's a delicate balance that will be challenging to perfect, but Doncic has already made considerable progress toward building the body that can help him maximize his potential.