As Luka Doncic prepared to play his second game in Dallas since his stunning trade to the Los Angeles Lakers last February, Christian Clark and Dan Woike of The Athletic detailed several behind-the-scenes insights involving both the Dallas Mavericks and the Lakers.
According to league and team sources cited by the authors, a key factor behind Dallas’ decision to move Doncic stemmed from internal concerns about his conditioning habits.
At the time, the Mavericks’ basketball operations were overseen by Nico Harrison, who has since been dismissed.
Team officials were reportedly uneasy about Doncic’s long-term durability, particularly following the calf strain he suffered in late December 2024, and feared similar issues could arise in the future.
One source within the Mavericks organization used a colorful comparison to describe the situation, likening the player to Elvis Presley and suggesting the trade ultimately served as a wake-up call.
The source claimed the move pushed Doncic to improve his conditioning and overall habits.
“They (fans) got skinny Elvis,” the team source told The Athletic.
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