Jeff Teague Sounds Off on Luka Dončić’s Body Transformation After Dallas Mavericks Trade
The Dallas Mavericks’ decision to trade Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers midway through last season remains one of the most stunning moves in recent NBA history.
In the aftermath of the trade—and amid mounting questions about his future—Dončić committed to a dramatic lifestyle change. Training in Croatia with a new performance team, Dončić adopted two-a-day fasted workouts, an intermittent fasting plan, and a high-protein nutrition regimen designed to reduce body fat while preserving strength.
He also added lower-impact sports like pickleball and padel to improve joint stability and footwork, and took a full month off from basketball to allow his body to reset—something he had never done before.
Photos of Dončić’s offseason transformation quickly went viral. Gone was the heavier frame that critics had targeted in recent years. In its place: a leaner, more athletic version of the 6-foot-7 playmaker.
“Just visually, I would say my whole body looks better,” Dončić said in a Men’s Health feature. “But more importantly, I feel better. This is just the start; I need to keep going. Can’t stop.”
Jeff Teague Credits Injuries, Not the Trade
While many fans and analysts have speculated that Dončić’s transformation was a response to being traded by the Mavericks—and specifically to Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison’s doubts—former NBA point guard Jeff Teague offered a different take.
During a recent episode of the 520 In The Morning podcast, Teague dismissed the idea that Dončić’s changes were tied to resentment toward Dallas.
“I think he would’ve gotten like that eventually,” Teague said. “People were going to keep calling him fat. He was going to keep hurting his calf.”
Teague pointed to the recurring lower-body injuries Dončić suffered in Dallas as the real motivator.
“I think that’s what it was—the injuries,” he continued. “I don’t think he trained his body the right way. That’s why he kept getting hurt. That calf has been hurt for a minute. It’s too much weight.”
Teague, who played 12 NBA seasons and made an All-Star appearance in 2015, added that Dončić’s transformation was more about personal longevity than proving a point.
MVP Campaign Loading?
Whether motivated by personal health or professional pride, Dončić’s physical turnaround has only intensified the buzz around his MVP candidacy heading into the 2025–26 season.
Many sportsbooks have him listed among the top three favorites to win the award, trailing only Nikola Jokić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Kendrick Perkins and other analysts have pointed to Dončić’s “engaged, disrespected” mentality as factors that could tip the scales in his favor.
Still, not everyone is convinced. Jeff Teague picked Giannis Antetokounmpo to win MVP, citing the Greek star’s need to carry the Bucks amid the injury and departure of Damian Lillard.
“There’s nobody on his team,” Teague said. “He’s about to carry so crazy. He might average 34, 13, and 8. This boy is about to run point guard, basically.”
Even so, Dončić appears poised for the most important season of his career—and with a redefined body, new team, and massive expectations, he may finally silence the critics who once questioned whether he could lead a contender.
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