Lakers News: NBA Analyst Suggests Luka Doncic's Close Ties to Mark Cuban Hurt His Conditioning

Apr 9, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) hugs Mark Cuban after the game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Lakers have a crucial offseason, and now that things are officially underway in that regard. Monday marks the first day of the NBA offseason, and we've already seen three monumental moves thus far.

Those moves certainly signal the beginning of a significant change in the NBA that will undoubtedly alter the league's landscape not only next season but for years to come.

At the forefront of things will be the Lakers. All eyes will be on the Lakers as they have a pivotal offseason ahead of them. They not only need to bolster their roster to reach the level the Oklahoma City Thunder has achieved, but they might also need their superstar, Luka Doncic, to reach heights in his game that he has not yet.

Doncic is the new face of the Lakers, and while his talent and skill set are undeniable, many still question his conditioning issues. The Dallas Mavericks traded the 26-year-old superstar for that reason.

Many point the blame at Doncic himself, but if you ask ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins, he points the blame somewhat at former Mavericks majority owner Mark Cuban.

Perkings shared his thoughts on the matter, saying that he puts some of the blame on Dallas and Cuban.

“Can we put a little blame on the Dallas Mavericks?” Perkins asked in reference to Doncic’s conditioning. “Hold on, hold on — hear me out real quick. Mark Cuban is one of the — when it comes down to players, I don’t know any owner that has special relationships or cater to players more than Mark Cuban. Am I wrong or am I right?”

Former NBA champion Richard Jefferson then resorted to blaming Doncic for those issues; however, Perkins responded with this.

“I know, R.J.,” Perkins said. “But just hear me out, just hear me out. Luka has been pacified, you know what I’m saying, since he got to the Dallas Mavericks. He came there. He put up big numbers. Mark Cuban has a history of pacifying players, right, catering to them in a different way. It’s facts.

“He could have got spoiled, and all of a sudden, they sell the team, new ownership group, Nico Harrison. They like, ‘F— this.’

“I don’t even wanna go down that hole. I’m just saying. I’m just throwing it out there.”

Doncic has appeared to take that criticism to heart and is working his butt off to stay in shape and lead the Lakers back to glory.

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