One of the most intriguing storylines of the offseason has been Luka Doncic’s physical transformation. After being shockingly traded by the Mavericks last season — reportedly in part because the organization doubted he’d ever commit to improving physically —Luka gave the most poetic response possible: showing up in the best shape of his career and losing over 30 pounds, like someone hellbent on proving an ex wrong.
Still, a bit of skepticism toward the newly “skinny” Luka would be understandable. We’ve seen this movie before—photos of a leaner Doncic made the rounds during the 2021 offseason, only for fans to realize at that year’s EuroBasket that the pictures didn’t quite match reality. This time, however, the transformation has proven legitimate. Luka appears to be in the best physical condition of his career, and the results have been evident in his performances.
His enhanced fitness has had a tangible effect, which has been visible during this year’s EuroBasket and the early stages of this NBA season—most notably on the defensive end. The question now is whether this new version of Luka Doncic can turn the Lakers into a legitimate contender in the Western Conference—and, by extension, a real threat to the Nuggets on their path to a second championship in their franchise’s history.
Can ‘Skinny’ Luka Make the Lakers a Real Threat for the Nuggets?
While the Slovenian has long faced criticism for his defense — especially last season — there were signs of incremental progress even then. He began taking small but meaningful steps toward improving on that end of the floor. However, his poor conditioning ultimately undermined these efforts, limiting his lateral quickness and making him a significant defensive liability while reducing his overall offensive effectiveness.
These issues were on full display during the Lakers’ first-round loss to the Timberwolves. While Doncic undeniably had flashes of brilliance — with some “Luka Magic” moments on offense and even strong defensive possessions against Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle — his poor conditioning made him look like the shell of the player who, just one season earlier, had tormented these same Timberwolves and nearly single-handedly eliminated them in five games in the Western Conference Finals.
Too often, Doncic was beaten off the dribble on defense — particularly by Randle and Jaden McDaniels. The latter also gave him trouble on the other end of the floor —again a stark contrast from their previous playoff matchup, where Luka routinely overpowered the slimmer McDaniels and made an elite perimeter stopper like him look helpless. But in the 2025 playoffs, it was the Slovenian who looked desperate, struggling to score against the Timberwolves’ perimeter lockdown defender and doing everything he could to search for a different matchup. Additionally, he also struggled to consistently exploit switches against Minnesota’s bigs like Naz Reid — a baffling sight given how easily he had carved up the Wolves’ frontcourt during the 2024 playoffs with the Mavs.
Encouraging Signs During EuroBasket
Now, however, things seemed to have changed. Improved conditioning and the dropped weight allow Doncic to have more energy and mobility. He will never be a lockdown defender, but his effort and activity have taken a clear leap forward. And with his size, strength, and elite basketball IQ, he could operate effectively in a “free safety” role — similar to what LeBron James did during the Lakers’ 2020 title run.
In this year’s EuroBasket, we may have seen the best version of Luka Doncic with the Slovenian national team. On defense, he showed an unprecedented level of energy and activity, frequently forcing turnovers with his effort. Luka led Slovenia all the way to the quarterfinals, where they pushed the eventual champions Germany to the brink. He was arguably the best player in the tournament — no small feat given the presence of stars like Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo. His dominant scoring outbursts carried Slovenia in several games, though his impact tended to wane in second halves — an understandable result of the immense workload he was forced to shoulder, often running out of gas down the stretch.
With the Lakers, however, that burden should be far lighter. Surrounded by capable co-stars like Austin Reaves — who appears to have taken a major offensive leap — and eventually LeBron James, Luka now has the luxury to pace himself and stay effective throughout all four quarters. That support on offense would also allow him to be more reliable on the defensive end, becoming a solid cog within the Lakers’ defensive machine.
Old Habits Die Hard
That said, Luka’s transition defense remains as horrific as ever. His tendency to argue with referees instead of sprinting back still shows up from time to time — and probably always will. To his credit, this habit has lessened somewhat, but it’s likely a permanent part of the Luka Doncic experience.
And given his track record, expecting a complete turnaround feels unrealistic. Perhaps it’s just part of the territory with Balkan superstars; Nikola Jokic also shares a similar reluctance to run back in transition, often preferring to have a nice chat with the refs instead. Ultimately, it’s about finding a healthy middle ground — one where those moments don’t end up hurting the team too much.
The Lakers’ Supporting Cast will be the X Factor
The Lakers’ biggest concern isn’t Luka — the key will be how much support he will receive. LeBron James continues to defy Father Time, performing at a level no 40-year-old professional basketball player should, and Austin Reaves has shown real offensive growth, particularly thriving in the games without LeBron or Luka, and he could solidify himself as part of a legitimate Big Three. However, it still remains to be seen how much the Lakers can rely on Reaves against elite playoff competition. Amid all the criticism Luka received after last year’s playoff exit against the Wolves, the young guard’s underwhelming performances largely flew under the radar.
The Lakers’ biggest concern in a potential matchup with the Nuggets remains the center position. Nikola Jokic dominated Deandre Ayton during their 2023 playoff series — a matchup that marked the beginning of the former No. 1 overall pick’s fall from grace, transforming him from the “Jokic stopper” in 2021 into an undesirable big who the Suns could not wait to ship out in a trade with Portland for Jusuf Nurkic.
Rui Hachimura is a solid two-way contributor, but not an elite defender capable of stopping a Jamal Murray or Aaron Gordon at their best. And inserting Marcus Smart into a starting lineup to deal with the Canadian brings its own set of challenges with the aforementioned big three. High-energy bench players like Jake LaRavia and Jarred Vanderbilt could make an impact in certain matchups, but as past playoff runs have shown — particularly with Vanderbilt — his offensive limitations often outweigh his defensive value, especially against a powerhouse frontcourt like Jokic and AG.
The Defensive Duo of Braun and AG will be the Key
As always, the responsibility of containing the Lakers’ stars will fall on Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun. Luka Doncic poses a unique challenge — he thrives in pick-and-roll situations, relentlessly forcing defenders through screens and hunting for favorable matchups. Additionally, Luka’s size and strength allow him to overpower most perimeter defenders, making him a nightmare matchup for any team. To contain him, a defender must be quick enough to effectively navigate through multiple screens to not allow easy mismatches — and also strong and tall enough to avoid being bullied by the Slovenian.
When Luka is at his best, we’ve seen repeatedly how even elite perimeter defenders like Jaden McDaniels and Mikal Bridges struggled to slow him down in playoff series. That makes Christian Braun crucial; his blend of quickness and physicality gives Denver its best chance to at least make Luka work for his offensive creation.
That leaves Aaron Gordon with the unenviable task of guarding LeBron James, who, as absurd as it sounds, remains devastatingly effective even at 40. Jamal Murray must also rediscover his defensive capabilities to keep Austin Reaves from catching fire, as Reaves’ quickness could make him a difficult assignment for Cameron Johnson over extended stretches.
The Bottom Line
This might be the best version of Luka Doncic we’ve ever seen — and that alone makes the Lakers a threat for Denver. Even so, the Nuggets should still view themselves as favorites in a potential playoff series with Los Angeles, thanks to their continuity, favorable matchups, and overall superior quality. But if Luka sustains this level, if Reaves keeps ascending, and if LeBron continues to defy Father Time, Denver could face its toughest challenge yet in maintaining its “Daddy” status over the Lakers.
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