As August approaches, the NBA community shifts its focus to player conditioning, often dubbed 'muscle watch' season. This week, Luka Dončić has notably drawn attention, particularly with insights from Men's Health. Following recent scrutiny of his physique, especially after his trade to the Los Angeles Lakers, Dončić now presents a more fit appearance than he has in recent years, reminiscent of his days during the 2018-19 rookie season. He has achieved this transformation through a rigorous commitment to both his workout routine and dietary adjustments.

According to the profile, Dončić is engaging in multiple daily workouts that combine weight training, agility exercises, and shooting drills while in Croatia. His dietary regimen includes adhering to a gluten-free, low-sugar diet that features at least 250 grams of protein, supplemented by an almond milk-based shake each day. The results of this dedication are evident, and if Dončić maintains this level of fitness through EuroBasket, where he will play for Slovenia, and into the 2025-26 NBA season, he may finally secure his first MVP award.

Utilizing Box Plus/Minus (BPM), a box score-based metric that estimates a player's overall contribution to their team while on the court, provides further context. A BPM exceeding 8.0 signifies an MVP-caliber performance. Dončić has surpassed this threshold in four of his seven seasons, achieving a career-high BPM of 9.9 in the 2023-24 season. Despite his impressive statistical performance, he has never finished higher than third in the MVP voting, partially due to competing against Nikola Jokić. His perceived lack of commitment to fitness was cited as a reason for the Dallas Mavericks' decision to move him, a situation that could potentially backfire as Dončić's renewed commitment to his conditioning could motivate him to showcase a dominant performance in the coming season.