Post-Break Luka Dončić: Enhanced Skills in Basketball Performance

Luka Dončić’s 2025 Offseason

Luka Dončić had a challenging 2025 offseason. After being sidelined by a calf injury and traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers in a shocking deal that reshaped the NBA’s future, there were rumors that the Mavericks front office was hesitant to invest long-term in the 26-year-old due to concerns about his work ethic and conditioning.

Dončić’s Training and Fitness Plan

Once the NBA playoffs were over and the Lakers were eliminated, Dončić was eager to train. He wanted to level-up for his first full year as a Laker and change the narrative around his physicality. His training team suggested a radical idea: Dončić should stop playing basketball for a month after tests in May revealed that he was fully healthy, according to his physiotherapist Javier Barrio.

Time Off for Recovery

For the first time in years, Dončić would give his body a complete break from the rigors of basketball. He had been constantly on the move the previous summer in 2024, playing for the Slovenian national team in an Olympic qualifying tournament just weeks after the Mavs made it to the NBA Finals.

Cross Training and Total-Body Strength

Over the summer, Team Luka had three full months to rebuild Dončić. With court time eliminated, Dončić initially resisted, but soon filled the time with a weights routine that improved his total-body strength. He also found distraction playing pickleball and padel, sometimes with friends, sometimes with Barrio and trainer Anze Maček.

The Importance of Diverse Training

This unique approach serves as a reminder: The best way to improve in your sport isn’t always to train exclusively in that area. By participating in other sports or training methods, you fill in gaps in your training while giving your body a break from the movements you rely on in your sport. If you love gym workouts, for example, trying yoga after years of powerlifting can increase your range of motion and spinal awareness.

Benefits of New Sports for Dončić

For Dončić, the new games not only reminded him of his childhood but also challenged new muscles and relieved his knees thanks to less vertical jumps. They also strengthened adductors, glutes, and ankles with footwork. He admits, “At the beginning, it was hard. I can’t be without basketball. But when I was a little kid, I played a lot of sports.”

Resting Body and Mind

Importantly, Dončić also gave his body and mind a break. The mental rest is particularly crucial for young basketball athletes who often play year-round, leaving no time to disconnect from the game.

The Anticipation for the Next Season

This summer, Dončić was eager to return to basketball. By early June, Team Luka let Dončić hit the court, and he immediately texted his trainer three smiley faces. Barrio believes, “I think that this summer, he sees the difference, and he’s really happy.”