Lakers star Luka Doncic's body transformation is stunning since shocking Mavs trade

Many NBA pundits had said Luka Doncic would have the world's biggest chip on his shoulder after his jaw-dropping trade to the Los Angeles Lakers.

After only twenty games, that certainly appears to be the case.

Luka Doncic, Aaron Gordon — Mar 19, 2025: Luka Doncic is guarded by the Denver Nuggets' Aaron Gordon. | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

The five-time All-NBA First Team superstar has been everything Lakers fans had hoped for, while Dallas Mavericks followers continue to live in agony after losing the generational talent for still bewildering and short-sighted reasons.

Reports had been that without the dedication and work ethic to be in peak physical shape, Mavs executives, including general manager Nico Harrison, and the new Adelson and Dumont ownership group (bought in a murky transaction from Mark Cuban), didn't want to pay the still only 26-year-old franchise player the supermax of $345 million over five years.

Well, after 20 games, whether its following in the footsteps of 40-year-old LeBron James, who famously spends millions annually to keep his body in tip-top physical condition, or hanging with the dapper and svelte Lakers GM Rob Pelinka (and former Michigan Wolverines teammate of the Fab Five and a national champion as a freshman alongside Glen Rice and Terry Mills), Doncic's before-and-after is stunning.

first game vs last night. luka down at least 20 pounds already #thankyounico pic.twitter.com/1OkDh7CMrQ
— belal. 🇵🇸 (@itsbelal_a) March 20, 2025

Yes, it's only one before-and-after side-by-side, and the lighting is more flattering on the skinnier version, but it definitely looks like LA is having a huge impact on Doncic's physical transformation.

Now Mavs and NBA fans not rooting for the Lakers hate Harrison and the Mavs owners for allowing it to happen, while Doncic is the new king of LA. Well, more like the new Slovenian prince since Los Angeles Dodgers DH and pitcher Shohei Ohtani is the undisputed king of La La Land.

Luka Doncic, Rob Pelinka, JJ Redick — Feb 4, 2025: Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic poses for photos with general manager Rob Pelinka and head coach JJ Redick | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

The Lakers currently sit third in the Western Conference, but if LeBron and Doncic can be fully healthy when the NBA playoffs start, they'll be a trendy pick to come out of the West.

The reigning scoring champion single-handedly carried the Mavs to the NBA Finals last season before falling to the Boston Celtics in five games. But that was a soft, chubby Doncic. Skinny Doncic could turn unstoppable.