LeBron James Makes Feelings Crystal Clear on Luka Dončić’s Insane Physical Transformation

One of the biggest reasons that Luka Dončić was traded from the Dallas Mavericks was his apparent lack of conditioning and focus. Dončić seems to have used them as motivation and improved his physical conditioning early in the offseason. He reportedly lost 30 pounds with his new fitness regimen.

Fans could notice a significant change as Dončić suited up for Team Slovenia in EuroBasket 2025. While he has yet to step on the court for the Lakers in this ongoing preseason, expectations are sky-high after his insane transformation.

With Dončić’s physical transformation being discussed throughout this offseason, LeBron James finally discussed his teammate on his Mind the Game podcast. James shared his thoughts on the changes that fans can expect from Dončić heading into the 2025-2026 NBA season, and he spoke on the potential benefits that Dončić’s transformation could provide.

What Changes Does LeBron James Expect from Luka Dončić This Season?
Although Dončić is only 26 years old and yet to enter his prime, he is already viewed as an incredibly experienced and accomplished star. Ever since entering the league, Dončić has made his presence felt and put up memorable and noteworthy performances in both the regular season and playoffs.

While fans may presume that a radical physical transformation could display itself through a change in playstyle, James dismissed this notion. He pointed out that the main difference and improvement for Dončić will be noticed in his recovery process.

“He just looks obviously a little bit quicker, 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 like Luka’s game is going to change…”

“That’s not going to change, but I think for him, what’s going to change is he’s going to see how he wakes up the next day after three to four nights. He’s going to be like ‘Oh man.’ Because you’ve built this up, you’ve built this body up, and it’s going to be so beneficial to you and your recovery process and your energy.”

The Los Angeles Lakers star went on to praise his younger teammate for displaying a sense of commitment to improving his body and staying in great shape this offseason.

“Obviously, I’m proud of him but he doesn’t need to hear it from me. It’s what he wanted to do for himself and that’s the only thing that matters,” James noted. He even joked that he might have to borrow a thing or two from Dončić’s workout and diet schedule.

In any case, it is good to see that both Dončić and James are in good shape. Although they have yet to play in a preseason game, there is no denying that they will be looking to hit the floor running with the Lakers once the season begins. The early flashes of their chemistry last season brought the Lakers a 50-32 record. Fans are left wondering what this duo will be able to accomplish with a full season together.