Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James ‘Super-Duper Proud’ Of Luka Dončić Getting In Elite Shape
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is “super-duper proud” of Luka Dončić getting in elite shape.
Dončić lost a lot of weight this offseason after the Dallas Mavericks traded him last season in part because he was out of shape.
“He just looks, you know, obviously a little bit quicker,” James said on the Mind the Game podcast with Steve Nash. “You know, a little bit more functional. But I think more importantly, I think what a lot of people will not see is the recovery now. I think when your body is in top-tier shape and you feel so much better, it’s not the actual game. It’s not like Luka’s game is gonna change. … That’s not gonna change.
“But I think for him personally, I think what’s gonna change for him is he’s gonna see how he wakes up the next day after three (games) in four nights. He’s gonna be like, ‘Oh man!’ Cuz you’ve built this up, you’ve built this body up and now, you know, it’s gonna be so beneficial to you and your recovery process and your energy. So I’m super-duper proud of him.”
Dončić and James played 23 games together last season. The Lakers went 15–8 in those games.
Dončić averaged 27.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.4 blocks alongside James, who averaged 23.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.6 blocks next to Dončić.
James, 40, picked up his 2025-26 player option with the Lakers. He will make $52.6 million this season in the final year of his contract. The leading scorer in NBA history will become an unrestricted free agent next offseason for the first time since 2018.
Dončić wants James to retire from the NBA with the Lakers, a source told DallasHoopsJournal. Dončić has frequently said James was the player he watched most growing up. The former Mavericks star enjoyed playing alongside James last season and believes the Lakers can contend for the championship this season.
Los Angeles lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 playoffs. Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia signed with the Lakers this offseason.
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