Luka Has One Man to Thank

Luka Has One Man to Thank originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

One of the biggest storylines of the NBA offseason has been the noticeable physical transformation of Luka Doncic. The 26-year-old Slovenian star is preparing for his first full season with the Los Angeles Lakers. After being traded from Dallas to Los Angeles in February, Doncic played 28 regular-season games and five postseason games with the Lakers.

Early in the summer, photos and reports surfaced showing a much leaner and more muscular Doncic. New teammate Deandre Ayton even described him as “super ripped.”

Now, fans are pointing the finger at an unexpected figure for Doncic’s new look: Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison.

Many believe Harrison played a part in pushing Doncic toward this transformation, whether directly or indirectly. Doncic has long faced criticism about his conditioning. Now that he’s appeared on the cover of Men’s Health looking shredded, fans are speculating about what sparked the shift.

Damn man Nico Harrison really created a monster. Luka Doncic went from fat to the cover of Men’s Health magazine 😭 pic.twitter.com/aNDkuPa4nn

— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) July 28, 2025

Some are blaming Harrison for letting a generational star walk away after less than a season removed from reaching the NBA Finals.

One post said it all, "Nico really fat shamed Luka into an MVP season."

Another fan had a comment about Luka: "We getting skinny Luka next year. Skinny Luka when he first came into the league, was fire."

"A pro athlete got bullied and shamed into becoming a better athlete. Luka might actually play defense this year. Well done," one person chimed in.

"Niko’s therapist is about to hear a lot about one tall skinny white guy," remarked another fan, while one person said, "Good. Fire Nico."

"Nico makes him better," a commenter said.

Whether Nico Harrison deserves credit or not, the results speak for themselves. Doncic looks like a man on a mission heading into the 2025-26 season. With LeBron James likely nearing the end of his time in Los Angeles, Doncic will be the face of JJ Redick’s team moving forward.

Last season, split between Dallas and Los Angeles, Doncic averaged 28.2 points per game. His career scoring average is 28.6, and in 55 postseason games, he has put up an impressive 30.9 points per game.

Doncic, a five-time All-Star, has never won an NBA MVP, though he was named Euroleague MVP in 2018. He was originally drafted third overall by the Atlanta Hawks in 2018, but was traded to the Mavericks in a deal that sent Trae Young to Atlanta.

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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 28, 2025, where it first appeared.