Luka Doncic has gone viral due to his body transformation, which bodes well for the Los Angeles Lakers. Assistant coach Nate McMillan believes this is a huge step in the right direction for the superstar guard.
The Los Angeles Lakers have a big 2025-26 season coming up, as they have a resurgent Luka Doncic on their roster. The Slovenian guard has been hard at work with his offseason training, as he looks like a refreshed player.
He looks healthier now, which bodes well for their season. The biggest issue Doncic had in earlier seasons was his conditioning. With the work he has done, Doncic could be in shape and prepared for a big season.
Lakers assistant coach Nate McMillan is ecstatic for Doncic. He even compared the 26-year-old to Michael Jordan, which is a significant boost to anyone’s ego.
During the 1980s, Jordan was already reaching superstardom. Most people would have taken Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Larry Bird over him. However, there were only a few players who could stay on Jordan’s level at the time.
In the late 1980s, Jordan was on his way to becoming the league’s best player. Unfortunately, he could not achieve success in the postseason. He and the Chicago Bulls kept running into the Detroit Pistons, the constant thorn in their side.
The Pistons even had the infamous Jordan Rules, playing extra-physical basketball against them. Chicago’s superstar did his best to buff up and committed to staying in the weight room. That was a huge boost, as he overcame the Pistons’ lockdown defense, which McMillan compared to Doncic.
“Just his talent. His ability to get off his shot, score. I think he’s probably the best one-on-one player in the game right now. He can get off his shot against anybody. Whether you try to pressure him or you put a small guy to try and disrupt him,” McMillan said about Doncic’s game on The Sports Shop.
“He looks fantastic. With everything that happened in the past year, it’s a challenge for him. I’ve seen this before in the NBA with players who come into the league. It’s just like Michael (Jordan). Michael made the comment years ago that the Pistons just beat him up.”
“He had to get into the weight room. It’s the same thing with Luka. You’ve played a certain way for a number of years. You’ve been successful doing it. But, if you want to be successful and improve, you have to continue to improve your game and work on your body.”
The Western Conference is even more stacked in the 2025-26 season. Defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder are the favorites to win, but they will have strong competition. The Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves are likely the best rivals.
However, the Lakers are the dark horse, especially with their improved roster. Doncic is in better shape, so he will be healthier for the entire year. Deandre Ayton is with the Lakers now, and he will be Doncic’s primary pick-and-roll partner.
LeBron James is still with the Lakers, and he will continue to be a superstar even in his 40s. JJ Redick’s Lakers team are a dark horse, and the NBA community should be wary. This is a Lakers team that is ready to pull off some big upsets. With Doncic as the star player, that is always a possibility.
