Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Who Inspired Luka Doncic to Transform His Body? Lakers Assistant Reveals Big Name

The NBA veteran motivated Doncic to raise his physical standards.

Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

European basketball and the NBA are witnessing a stunning transformation. Slovenian star Luka Doncic, LeBron James’ Lakers teammate, emerged at EuroBasket 2025 with a completely different body and a new rhythm of play. The 26-year-old point guard also lost over 30 pounds this offseason, the result of a rigorous training routine and a revamped diet.

And according to a Lakers assistant, this change in Luka Doncic was directly influenced by none other than LeBron James . The impact is immediate—Luka appears more agile, more resilient, and, above all, more dominant.

Luka Dončić 2.0

“This Luka is…different”

READ ➡️: https://t.co/2JNbFkOldG pic.twitter.com/p89PaLhf9f
— Luka Donkicks (@LukaDonkicks) July 28, 2025

However, this change didn’t happen by chance. According to Greg St. Jean, who is also part of Slovenia’s coaching staff, the presence of LeBron James was crucial. Being alongside an athlete who, at 40, still maintains an elite level, motivated Doncic to raise his physical standards.

Greg St. Jean didn’t hide the impact of the two stars’ close relationship. “Iron sharpens iron,” he said, emphasizing that great players inspire other great players. Luka Doncic has always admired LeBron , and now, by spending time with him daily, he’s absorbed habits that make a difference. The difference in his discipline, consistency, and dedication to his body is evidence.

LeBron, for his part, continues to be an example. The veteran wakes up at five in the morning to train, fine-tuning every detail of his preparation, and demonstrating, day after day, that longevity in the sport isn’t the result of chance, but of obsessive work. This collective energy affects not only Doncic, but the entire Angeleno squad, which enters the new season determined to prove it can still compete at the top.

The results speak for themselves. In just three EuroBasket 2025 games, Luka has posted video game-worthy numbers: 33.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 9.7 assists, and 3.3 steals per game. He also joined a select group by recording a historic triple-double, something only four players had achieved before in the competition.

😤🇸🇮Luka Doncic is leading #Eurobasket in four statistical categories!

33.0 PPG
9.7 APG
3.3 SPG
37.0 EFF

DOMINANCE 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/AVus6R7NhU
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) September 2, 2025

His evolution isn’t just physical; it’s mental. Luka Doncic now demonstrates more focus, consistency, and a strengthened sense of leadership to be ‘the Lakers’ guy alongside LeBron. Therefore, with his confidence at its peak, the results are evident both in the Slovenian national team’s performance and in the anticipation for his first full season in Los Angeles.

With a three-year, $165 million guaranteed maximum contract, Luka Doncic is officially the face of the Lakers’ future and LeBron James’ immediate successor. Even before debuting his first full season in the purple and gold, he’s already sparking excitement among fans and teammates.

The Angeleno team, which suffered ups and downs last season, is now preparing with renewed optimism. The chemistry between Luka Doncic and LeBron promises to be the driving force behind a title run. More than that, Luka’s physical and mental commitment reinforces that he’s not just ready to share the court with his idol—he’s ready to take center stage in a legendary franchise.

Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

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Gulshan Sharma

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A native of Jaipur, Rajasthan, journalist, and a complete soccer and basketball fan, he found the huge interest with basketball by watching videos of Allen Iverson and Tony Parker, but fell head over heels in love with the sport during the Warriors’ championship era (2015-2018). A sports game addict since his late PS1, he’s also passionate about the Eagles, Inter Miami and the Fever. He’s fortunate to have seen all his favorite teams win championships. He also has a special love for cricket and football (soccer), where he is a fan of Royal Challengers Bangalore and Barcelona.