New Luka Doncic News Makes Mavericks Trade Look Even Worse

New Luka Doncic News Makes Mavericks Trade Look Even Worse originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

There’s been a lot of buzz around Luka Doncic and the shape he’s in heading into the 2025-26 NBA season. The 26-year-old guard is preparing for his first full season with the Los Angeles Lakers after being traded from Dallas in February, a move that shook the league. Since then, the spotlight has been on his offseason training and what kind of form he’ll be in when the season tips off in October.

One of the key reasons Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison traded Doncic was concerns about his conditioning and how seriously he was taking his physical health. But a new report from "The Athletic," Dan Woike suggests Harrison may have misjudged the situation.

According to Woike, “Sources in Doncic’s inner circle believed he was on the path toward this kind of transformation even if he was never traded from Dallas.”

Sources in Luka Dončić’s inner circle believed he was on the path toward this kind of physical transformation even if he was never traded from Dallas, reports @DanWoikeSports.

Dončić and his management team began working with Anže Maček and Javier Barrio, the drivers of his… pic.twitter.com/sq2VftK6RT

— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) July 29, 2025

Monday brought even more attention to Doncic’s transformation. He ended the night at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, where he met MLB star Aaron Judge. Earlier in the day, photos of Doncic’s dramatic body change went viral, including a Sports Illustrated tweet showing him on the cover of Men’s Health magazine.

It's a new-look Luka.

(📸: @MensHealthMag) pic.twitter.com/zEYOE2F4kN

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) July 28, 2025

NBA insider Marc Stein also tweeted about Doncic’s appearance on the cover.

As he begins a week of Jordan Brand appearances, Luka Dončić is also featured in @MensHealthMag, talking extensively about his offseason training and his body transformation this summer.

“If I stop now,” Dončić told the magazine, “it was all for nothing.” pic.twitter.com/ItL3WiOjUk

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 28, 2025

Luka Doncic's Career Numbers

Beyond the NBA, Doncic starred in EuroBasket, averaging 26 points per game over seven games for Slovenia in 2022. He’s been just as dominant in the league. Over seven seasons, Doncic has averaged 28.6 points per game. In the playoffs, he’s even better, scoring 30.9 points per game over 55 appearances.

In the 2024 postseason, Doncic played 22 games, averaged 28.9 points, and led all players with 1.9 steals per game. His Mavericks fell short in the NBA Finals, losing to Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics. Last season, after joining the Lakers, he appeared in five playoff games, averaging 41.6 minutes and 30.2 points per game.

What the Lakers Starting Lineup will Look Like in 2025-26

Doncic is expected to be joined once again by 41-year-old LeBron James. Despite trade rumors, James looks likely to stay in Los Angeles. Austin Reaves should start in the backcourt alongside Doncic under new head coach JJ Redick.

At forward, the Lakers will likely go with 27-year-old Rui Hachimura and newly acquired big man Deandre Ayton. Veteran Marcus Smart, now 31, will come off the bench and provide depth at the guard position. The Lakers also feature two second-year players in Bronny James and Dalton Knecht.

Will Nico Harrison Be Fired?

Many Mavericks fans are still furious about the trade that sent Doncic to LA, and they’re calling for general manager Nico Harrison to be fired. While he did acquire Anthony Davis and later landed the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft to select Cooper Flagg, his future with the team remains uncertain.

Harrison has completed four seasons as Dallas’ GM, and the team has gone 179-149 during that span. Still, for many, sending away a generational talent like Doncic will always define his tenure.

Related: Aaron Judge, Luka Doncic Exchange Gifts at Yankee Stadium on Monday

Related: Unexpected Person Being Blamed for Luka Doncic’s Change in Physical Appearance

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 29, 2025, where it first appeared.