Unveiling the Secrets Behind Doncic's Weight Loss: His Goal to Join the Lakers' Greatest and Revealed Conversations with LeBron

On August 22nd Beijing time, Lakers reporter Anthony Irwin shared more insights into Doncic’s slimming process. His aim is to rank among the greatest players in Lakers history. Moreover, he kept in touch with LeBron during the offseason, and some of their exchanges have been revealed. Here is Irwin’s coverage—

The dawn of the Doncic era with the Lakers perhaps didn’t begin as seamlessly as expected by either party. While there were certainly standout moments, the overall outcome—being ruthlessly eliminated by the Timberwolves in the first playoff round—was not how anyone envisioned his debut postseason wearing a Lakers jersey. It’s worth noting that Doncic had just defeated this very team the previous year. After this embarrassing loss, Doncic threw himself into training, and his dramatic physical transformation became a hot topic.

However, that was not the end of the story.Doncic aspires to become one of the greatest players in Lakers historyHe understands clearly what standards must be met both on and off the court to earn such an honor. This summer, his professional attitude and willingness to collaborate with management in building the team—not only focusing on this season but his entire career in Los Angeles—have impressed the entire Lakers organization.

Although Doncic’s vertical leap wasn’t particularly remarkable when he first entered the league, he has showcased dunking ability before.However, since donning the Lakers jersey, he has yet to perform a dunkWhile the number of dunks doesn’t fully represent a player’s explosiveness, it does reflect certain aspects. According to reports from his time with the Slovenian national team,his athleticism has significantly improved, including dunks that some teammates hadn’t seen him complete in years.

Another key improvement this summer was thatDoncic has become more efficient off the ballSources close to the Lakers revealed that he focused heavily on catch-and-shoot drills to become more comfortable in that area. Throughout the offseason, he frequently communicated with coaches (Greg Saint-Jean accompanied him to the EuroBasket) to understand how coaches expect him to impact the game when LeBron or Reeves are handling the ball.

“He’s exceptional and can’t just stand idle after passing,” said a Western Conference scout. “As long as he’s on the court, defenders must always stay alert. If they don’t, that’s on him.”

Regarding LeBron, sources close to the team recently reiterated thatsince the start of this summer, he and Doncic have maintained communication, focusing on how to make each other betterRegardless of the rumors about LeBron’s future, these two superstars look forward to playing side by side again next season.

Doncic’s commitment to the Lakers is reflected not only in his contract extension but also in how smoothly the process went. He signed the extension at the earliest opportunity, and the entire process was without drama. About a week before he signed, all insiders familiar with the situation were confident that he would definitely agree to the extension.

“This sends an important message,” said a source close to the team,“He never considered leaving and wants the entire league to know he is fully dedicated to the Lakers.”

The Lakers are already preparing to attract stars like Antetokounmpo, Jokic, or other players who might be dissatisfied with their current teams within the next year or two, andDoncic’s quick contract extension is seen as a signal to other stars: they can join Los Angelesand expect to play alongside a superstar who is at his peak and fully committed.

This summer, as the face of the Lakers, Doncic also took on recruiting duties.Reports say that when Ayton and Smart were about to be bought out, he personally called them. Both players eventually chose to sign with the Lakersand later spoke about Doncic’s influence on their decision. If he can successfully recruit two impactful players despite limited team financial flexibility, it’s certain that when the Lakers target bigger stars, he will be a major asset to the team.

Being the Lakers’ face has its advantages. Previously, Doncic appeared on Good Morning America, discussing his weight loss journey. For a professional athlete, this is not an ordinary matter—they are expected to maintain good physical condition. However, with this attention comes great responsibility. During his first full offseason, Doncic embraced everything that this opportunity presented with enthusiasm.