Luka Doncic’s physicality was one of the most talked-about subjects of the 2024/25 season, with the Dallas Mavericks seemingly pulling the plug on him because of it. Now, heading into his first full year as a Los Angeles Laker, Doncic looks like a changed man. But has that affected his game at all? One of his latest opponents doesn’t think so.
Doncic spent the summer in Europe competing in EuroBasket, hoping to taste glory with Slovenia. Unfortunately, the Eastern European nation fell to Germany 99-91, bringing Doncic’s run with the national team to a close for now. After the match, which took place last night, Franz Wagner, a member of the German squad, was asked about Doncic.
The question posed to the Orlando Magic star was simple: Is guarding Doncic more difficult now that he’s leaner? According to Wagner, the answer is no. But is it in a good way for Doncic, or a bad one?
“He’s like that all the time. I see no difference, really. Extremely good player. If he got a little bit better, he might have, but it’s tough to tell with him,” Wagner said, hinting that playing against Doncic felt the same.
The fact that Doncic is one of the best in the NBA means he remains one of the toughest to play against. But Wagner didn’t sound the alarm as if opponents were about to face a Super Saiyan version of the Slovenian superstar, despite what Doncic’s physical transformation might suggest. In short, he said Luka’s game is every bit as tough to scheme against as it has always been.
As for Doncic, he hasn’t commented on whether he feels better about his gameplay yet. After losing weight and building muscles over the summer, he got on the cover of Men’s Health, and stated, “Just visually, I would say my whole BODY looks better.”
Will 2025-26 finally be The Don’s MVP season? Expectations are sky-high, and honestly, they should be. Just two years ago, he dragged his Mavericks to the NBA Finals while casually averaging over 34 points a night in the regular season.
Still, one has to wonder if Luka can really do much more than he already has. That’s not to say his play will decline, but it’s wild to think that a player in his mid-20s might already be approaching his ceiling. There’s a strong chance that isn’t the case, yet with the odds stacked against him, it’s a possibility that can’t be ignored.
One thing is certain. Luka and LeBron James won’t have to carry the Lakers like they did last postseason. The front office brought in DeAndre Ayton for size and Marcus Smart for perimeter defense, while also locking up Austin Reaves as a reliable third-scoring option. The West is going to be brutal, but if anyone can push the Lakers back into contention, it’s The Don.