Author: Monojit Mandal
In preparation for the 2023-24 NBA season, the Dallas Mavericks are talking to their best player, Luka Doni, about the possibility of losing some weight to improve his efficiency on the court. The information comes from The Athletic’s Tim Cato, who revealed that team executives recently approached Doni to discuss the possible benefits of reducing his desired playing weight.
Doni has struggled to stay in top basketball shape during the off-season of his stellar career, raising questions about his fitness level. As a result, the Mavericks found strategies to help their star player overcome this challenge. After being criticized for the team’s struggles at the end of the previous season, Doni took proactive measures by getting the help of a nutritionist to help him reach peak fitness.
Doni concentrated on resolving his weight fluctuations and occasionally weighed as much as 118 kg – 14 kg more than his recorded weight of 104 kg. This variability in conditioning often hampered his late-game performance, resulting in a tie for 39th among all players in fourth quarter scoring last season.
Despite his occasional fitness problems, it’s important to note that Doni has been in good health during his five-year NBA career, avoiding serious injuries. However, there are doubts as to whether his current fitness program will be enough to withstand the arduous 82-game season, considering the physical demands of his style of play and the need to withstand contact.
Given Doni’s prominence as one of the league’s best players and a regular MVP candidate, the Dallas Mavericks face a tricky balancing act. Any changes to his routine should be treated with caution, especially given the team’s recent failures to build a squad around its star player.
Doni’s achievements on the court speak for themselves, as he has progressed in every NBA season. During the 2021-22 season, he led the Mavericks to the Western Conference finals with an average of 33.0 points, 10.3 rebounds and 9.3 assists per game. These extraordinary efforts earned him a place on the All-NBA First Team, as well as a spot as a finalist for the MVP award.
The Slovenian star is known for his versatility, as he excels at scoring, creating plays and rebounding from various points on the court. He accepts the difficulties of the competition and strives to win like a true Mavericks leader.