NBA fans believe Luka Doncic is finally tackling an issue that has affected his performances for years.
Luka Doncic has all the gifts needed to be a superstar in the NBA. And while he hasn’t failed to live up to his potential, fans wouldn’t be wrong to say that he can be even better.
One of the main complaints about Doncic is usually his conditioning and fitness. Perhaps this is why a recent appearance at a Real Madrid game excited fans about Doncic’s improvement, as the point guard looked leaner than he had in years.
However, not everyone believes it’s his conditioning that needs work. Paul Pierce encouraged Doncic to defend better, pointing to a lack of effort for his previous failures.
Gary Payton gave Luka Doncic the same advice as well. But his defensive effort can only improve when Doncic takes his fitness more seriously. Luckily, it appears he is doing just that, as a recent video of the Slovenian guard at the gym went viral.
NBA fans are optimistic seeing Luka Doncic work hard in the gym
A recent clip of Luka Doncic lifting over 700 pounds at the gym has gone viral. Many fans are shocked to see him taking such serious measures to improve his fitness after years of being too laid back.
One excited fan simply wrote, “MVP year…”
While another fan thanked the critics for pressuring him, saying, “Thank you haters for giving him someone to shut up.”
One Lakers fan noted, “First time I ever seen Luka lifting weights. We’re winning it all next year.”
Another Lakers fan even predicted more explosiveness from Doncic next year, writing, “At least 10 dunks next season. Book it.”
However, not everyone was as convinced by this clip, with one fan claiming, “Luka gym videos are the equivalent to Ben Simmons open run videos.”
Similarly, another fan asked for more proof, saying, “I wanna see defensive side drills.”
Luka Doncic must improve defensive effort ahead of new season
Every offseason, fans hope that Luka Doncic returns to the NBA with a renewed vigor on the defensive end of the floor. However, to this point, there hasn’t been any marked improvement since he arrived in the NBA.
Doncic had his best defensive year in the 2021-22 NBA season, with a defensive rating of 106.5. Since then, he hasn’t come close to having the same defensive season.
If he can achieve a similar defensive rating next season, the Lakers will be even stronger with him at the helm.
Perhaps playing alongside and seeing how hard LeBron James works will inspire Doncic. One of the reasons James has found success over the years is how hard he works to maintain his body.
While LeBron James is not the player he was in his prime, he is still leagues above many of the stars in the NBA. Doncic, who turns 26 this year, could stand to learn from his teammate.
For Doncic, his lack of effort on the defensive end is becoming a problem. If he takes the right steps in the offseason to improve his conditioning and put in more energy when guarding opponents, he can find even more success than he has in years past.
