Luka Doncic Discussion: Lean Mean Slovenian Machine

I have been told 3 times in the last month that I look like Luka Doncic. I gotta get to the gym.

People sure can say some hurtful things sometimes. I know I'm out of shape, but THAT FAT??? #hurtful

 

I can't tell if you're kidding or not?
he doesn't look that bad anymore lol

 

he's sirron kidding. it's a thing.

tbh, luka is still carrying too much weight. but so is jokic. i joked to my dad that jokic looked like he had me in a baby bjorn for games 1 and 2. still dominated. built different. in all the ways.

 

What was funny is when a couple of kids thought I was Luka, they came back and asked me where I was from.

when I said Slovenia, their eyes got so big hahahahaha

 

true, but he's still playing 20lbs heavier than he did early on, and he doesn't need those 20lbs to play his game.

again, whatever, as long he's on the floor and producing like he does, i'm not going to whine. but while you're right he's not going to get ripped, he could be a little lighter to his benefit.

 

Luka’s defense in game 2 was very underrated. Such a smart, smart basketball player.

 

I just still can't believe we have Luka on our team. He was my favorite player in the league.


Regarding his weight, I got a some crap for my comments about it.


Its just that I and I know some others want him to be in NBA shape. He's gained a lot of pounds since he joined the league and it isn't the good pounds.

Just like we all wanted Shaq to be Orlando Shaq instead of McDonalds Shaq, we just don't want to be here years later saying 'what if' Luka stayed in better shape and for what he's paid its not out of the question for some of us here to want that.


With all that said just like Shaq, if he never gets into tiptop low % body fat shape we'd still love him regardless.


Nico/Dumont makes Jimmy look like Jesus, I'm just glad we didn't have to endure him as long as we did. Keeping Nico on is hilarious, but at least he's getting paid.

 

he's also very strong and has great hands. if you're big, strong, and smart, you can function as an nba defender, even with slow feet, imo.

 

Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones…

 

Throw? dude I'm so fat even tossing underhand I might rupture something

I just expect more from a professional athlete. Is that unreasonable?

 

Maybe I am just too dumb to understand but I really don't get the obsession about Luka's weight here. Since he got traded here it has been a constant flow of "see that angle he looks chubby or chunky or might be 14.7lbs over his ideal weight for a super super superstar player....." There are "ONLY" body types for any sport even competitive body building. There is a difference in off season shape and game shape for every professional athlete. What is game shape? The shape that allows the player to perform at his/her best ability. For some people that is being lean, others that is being muscular, while some just seem to wake up and perform while drinking a 6 pack a day and smoking. anyway.....

Luka has not had a problem performing on the basketball court. He hasn't been gassed at the end of games. He isn't lazy in the game and, the most important part, he is balling his a** off breaking Lakers records in less than half a season. He plays with his body. He plays his way with HIS body. Maybe he chooses to slim down a bit or put on more muscle in the offseason but that will be up to him. And, that could effect his game all around. Wherever Luka thinks he should be physically is exactly where he should be because, let me check the notes real quick....... he is F'n one the best players in the game and playing at an elite level.

Crazy how we have had so much greatness on the Lakers over the past decades yet we, as fans, are always like "he needs to be this/that" when the person is already playing at an elite level. I am not saying they are above criticism/opinion I'm just baffled how one idiot (Nico) made a comment and half the post about this superstar is about being fat. Crazy sh*t in my opinion.

 

Sirron trying to lose weight

 

well for me at least @puffyusaf#2 it's all in good fun. he's not your prototypical cardio athlete, but neither is Jokic. Neither was Bird. I think he'll be just fine, and if getting some grief motivates him to be even better, then I guess we've all done our part.

but he now plays in Los Angeles, CA, the land of pretty people and perfect bodies. he's gotta step it up

 

Sure buddy, did you call me fat??

 

I think the focus on him being/not being in shape is about two things, both of which I think are valid concerns: (1) he's obviously an incredible basketball player in his current shape, but could he be even better? Look at his highlights against the Clippers in the bubble. Much quicker first step and more explosive in general, while still strong enough to absorb contact. His skills have improved since then, so I don't think its crazy to think that if he got back to even his 2020 physical shape he might be THE best player in the league, rather than one of the 3-5 best players in the league.

(2) is that he's missing time due to injuries that may have been preventable. This was the big concern from the Mavs IMO. He's had issues with his calf even prior to the calf injury in December that kept him out for a couple of months and there was some reporting that the Mavs were very frustrated by it because they thought Luka hadn't been putting in enough work/taking the advice of the training staff following the last calf injury. The Mavs also got off to slow starts the last few years, maybe in part because Luka was coming into the season out of shape.

I don't think the Mavs were wrong to have some concerns with Luka's work ethic and long-term availability. The insane part is not realizing that, even with those concerns, they had a Top 3 asset in the league that had no desire to be anywhere else (at least at the time, I still think had they flamed out this year and next year there's a decent chance Luka was going to be out of there). You do whatever it takes to try to get through to him on the conditioning stuff rather than trading him preemptively.

 

I get where you are coming from for sure and can't say the "possibles" that you list aren't valid. That being said, we assume if someone does "A" that "B" will happen. If he is in "better" shape would he be better? No one knows what a. Better shape is for him and b. if that will improve his body to not getting hurt. I mean we have had Kobe, Bron, AD just to name a few that all take great care of their bodies and are psychotic about their work (esp Kobe and Bron) yet all that and they still have and had major injuries some reoccurring. In any case, I can't say the theory is wrong if Luka is "heavy" for his frame and workload.

"luka was coming in out of shape" is something A LOT of players do. Do we not remember Shaquile Oneal? Not everyone is the aforementioned Kobe and Lebron who are obsessive over being in top form. BTW, starting slow is about the Team. If they needed bro to be peak at the biggening of the season that means he was carrying them all year which means he would be burned out or hurt by seasons end anyway. Ref: Kobe's blown achilleas. Or, Bron and AD going down 2 years ago (I think) from over work under old pimple man. Which brings me back to the point here...

Until Nico said anything no one was overly worried about Luka. Nico F's it up and falls back on "He is unfit and doesn't work hard enough etc etc etc" and now everyone is all up Luka's a** for it. I get why Dallas is spinning it what I don't get, and the reason for my first post, is why we as Lakers fans are harping on it so much. I saw Sirron's take and get where he is coming from and yours too but in the end, none of it makes much sense to me.