Luka Doncic shared details about his preparation for the upcoming NBA season, addressing questions about his physical condition that have followed him throughout his career. The Slovenian star, who recently extended his contract with the "Lakers", offered candid insights into his modified training approach.
"There have always been many questions about my physical form, but I believe I was an excellent basketball player even before," Doncic stated frankly when discussing his fitness level.
The Slovenian guard explained the changes in his off-season routine compared to previous years. He pointed out that last season was particularly draining, with competitions extending into June followed immediately by Olympic qualification games.
"What motivated me? Actually, we developed a slightly different plan, and I had a bit more time. Last year was very exhausting—I played until June, and then immediately had Olympic qualifications, so there wasn't much energy left. This year I had a bit more time, and the plan was different," he explained.
Doncic admitted that adapting to the new training regimen wasn't easy at first. "Initially everything was difficult, but eventually it all became a matter of habit. It wasn't easy, but then things just fell into place," he added.
Interestingly, the Lakers star hasn't played much competitive basketball since the end of last season. He mentioned having only two team training sessions and one five-on-five game so far.
"I don't know if anything will be different now—I've only had two training sessions with the team and one five-on-five game. Before that, I hadn't played since the last NBA game, so we'll see," Doncic concluded.
Will these training adjustments translate to improved performance on the court? Lakers fans certainly hope so as they look forward to seeing what their star player brings to the table this season.
