Former Laker Wesley Johnson said Luka Doncic’s offseason transformation is a clear, positive sign for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Johnson told reporters that losing weight and staying focused looks like part of a deliberate plan to get back to elite form.
“Honestly, he has to. He has showed that he can do it. He has lost the weight. He has to now,” Johnson told Lakers Nation, via HoopsHype, noting the work wasn’t cosmetic. “He lost it for a reason… he’s trying to win. So that’s a good sign to see that he’s committed.”
Johnson framed Doncic’s body change as more than physical — it’s a statement of intent. He argued that the star isn’t simply proving something to critics, but proving it to himself and his teammates.
Doncic’s summer program included twice-daily workouts, detailed testing and a strict nutrition plan, according to his camp.
That context reinforces Johnson’s point that the work feels targeted at longevity and results rather than short-term optics.
Johnson explicitly tied the conditioning to a championship mindset, saying Doncic wants “to get back to where I was, the mountaintop.”
Skeptics will still watch how Doncic moves in live action, and Johnson admitted consistency is key. The former pro made clear the transformation must be maintained across EuroBasket minutes and the NBA preseason.
If Doncic sustains his new routine, Johnson suggested the Lakers could expect both improved efficiency and reduced wear.
A leaner, fitter Doncic could mean more explosive deceleration, better endurance and fewer late-season minutes lost to injury.
