‘If I Stop Now, It Was All for Nothing’: Luka Dončić Transforms Offseason Body, Reveals Training Routine
Luka Dončić has been one of the NBA’s most productive superstars for years, but now he’s showing off a different kind of transformation—one that could redefine how long he dominates the game.
The Los Angeles Lakers guard is featured on the cover of the August issue of Men’s Health, where he debuts a visibly leaner physique and discusses the offseason that sparked it. According to Men’s Health writers Andrew Heffernan and Ebenezer Samuel, Dončić spent his summer in Croatia going through two-a-day workouts and adhering to a strict gluten-free, low-sugar diet. The plan includes at least 250 grams of protein daily and one almond milk–based shake.
“What the Luka haters have never seen is this: Dončić slogging through two-a-days in Croatia,” Heffernan and Samuel wrote. “They never knew that Dončić had quietly constructed a fitness team several years ago to help enhance his (very dangerous) natural gifts.”
Dončić told Men’s Health the shift in focus came quickly after the Lakers’ season ended.
“So every summer I try my best to work on different things,” Dončić said. “Obviously, I’m very competitive. This summer was just a little bit different, you know. It kind of motivated me to be even better.”
Throughout his career, Dončić’s physical conditioning has drawn as much attention as his highlight-reel passes. Draft evaluators once questioned his explosiveness and lateral quickness, and his ability to maintain elite performance across an 82-game season has been tested—he’s topped 70 games only twice in seven years.
In 2024–25, Dončić averaged 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 7.7 assists over 50 games, continuing to put up elite numbers despite battling through a series of injuries. A calf injury forced him to miss extended time and ultimately marked the end of his tenure with the Dallas Mavericks. Minor injuries have been a persistent theme throughout his career, further elevating the importance of this summer’s physical transformation.
Even as he racked up accolades like Rookie of the Year and five All-NBA First-Team nods, questions persisted about how long he could keep playing at an MVP-caliber level without evolving physically. Then came the trade.
The Mavericks’ decision to move Dončić to Los Angeles stunned the league. The front office, led by general manager Nico Harrison, faced immediate backlash for trading away a 26-year-old franchise cornerstone.
But that skepticism may have been the spark Dončić needed. The Men’s Health story paints the picture of a player who took the move personally and poured that frustration into a new level of preparation.
“If I stop now,” Dončić told the magazine, “it was all for nothing.”
By June, basketball drills were reintegrated into his daily routine, but the early part of his summer was focused on building strength and improving cardiovascular endurance—two areas often cited as limiting factors in his career longevity.
Whether the new look and routine will carry over into the 2025–26 season remains to be seen. But if Dončić’s redefined approach leads to a new gear on the court, the Mavericks’ decision may come under even greater scrutiny—and the Lakers may have just unlocked a version of the superstar guard the league wasn’t ready for.
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