‘Ripped’ Luka Doncic Takes Sly Dig at Nico Harrison over Men’s Health Magazine

Luka Doncic's conditioning was touted as the primary reason the Dallas Mavericks traded him away to the Los Angeles Lakers.

‘Ripped’ Luka Doncic Takes Sly Dig at Nico Harrison over Men’s Health Magazine

Luka Doncic has been working on his body this offseason (Image via FirstSportz)

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When Luka Doncic arrived in the NBA, he was all of 18 years old. He did not know how athletes go about working on their physical attributes and leaned on the Dallas Mavericks’ training staff at the time.

As he grew older, naturally, he started to gain muscle and body fat. By the time he led his team to the NBA Finals, he was pretty much a player who seemed to have gained a lot of pounds.

That is what led the franchise to trade him away to the Los Angeles Lakers. In an attempt to justify their decision and to quell protests from their own fans, the Mavs started to leak information to the media, suggesting they were not happy with his conditioning.

Once the offseason kicked in, it seems the 26-year-old has listened to all the criticisms as well as the directive from the Lakers’ coaching staff. The Slovenian has been working hard to return to top shape, and his efforts so far indicate he has achieved his goals.

The latest version of Luka Doncic looks ripped. He has lost all the bulk he was criticized for, and looks like he can attack the rim with consistency once again. If this was the result of those criticisms from Mavs GM Nico Harrison, the Lakers star has given them the perfect reply.

They probably saw it, so I don’t have to worry about that.

Luka Doncic said in the Yankees press box

This was the 5-time All-NBA 1st teamer’s reply when New York Yankees broadcasters asked him if he had sent a copy of the latest Men’s Health magazine that shows Doncic’s ripped physique. His reply was a sly dig at Nico Harrison for his ‘fat-shaming’ comments.

Luka Doncic trained with weights for 1st time in Croatia

After his NBA season is over, Luka Doncic returns to Europe. He spends time with his family, friends, and also makes it a point to visit Real Madrid, the place where his path to greatness started.

Luka Doncic with Yankees stars Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr
Luka Doncic with Yankees stars Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr (Image via Open Source/X)

In between all this, as per Men’s Health Magazine, Doncic vacations in a quiet town in Croatia. He has been going there since his teenage years, as it helps him unwind, while also keeping him happy with some time on a basketball court. This time it was different.

The facility, which is located in the town where Doncic has vacationed every summer since he was a teen, didn’t have weights until earlier this month when he had dumbbells, barbells, weight plates, and med balls trucked in.

As revealed by Men’s Health Magazine

Their latest edition also reveals that the Slovenian’s team denied him a chance to touch a basketball for a month. In that period, the 26-year-old focused on a strict diet and fasting. These methods helped him shed weight fast and give his knees much-needed rest.

He eventually returned to the court and has been training to use his now slimmer body. He has never had the chance to train in this manner and is taking full advantage of it. Lakers fans are about to find a different version of their new franchise cornerstone.

Luka Doncic to play for Slovenia in EuroBasket

This is the first time Luka Doncic is getting the full three months to work out with his current team. Their goal is to get him ready before the Lakers’ training camp resumes in September. However, before that starts, they will get a chance to see how his new self works in 5v5 basketball.

The men’s edition of EuroBasket 2025 is set to start on August 27th. Doncic will lead his Slovenian squad to battle for the top spots of Group D. With the likes of Alperen Sengun, Franz Wagner, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, and a host of European NBA players, it will be an exciting tournament.

This will give the 26-year-old a good understanding of what he needs to tweak in his training regimen before joining his Lakers teammates in training camp. Moreover, EuroBasket will be a chance for the superstar to remind everyone what he is capable of.

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