Luka Doncic may have been praised this offseason for showing up to training camp in improved shape, but not everyone is convinced the transformation is here to stay. Among the skeptics is former NBA champion and ESPN analyst Paul Pierce, who didn’t hold back when speaking on the Dallas Mavericks star’s fluctuating conditioning.
“By December, when they ain’t practicing no more, you gonna see the same Luka as the last five years,” Pierce bluntly stated during a recent segment. His comment came amid growing media narratives that Doncic had slimmed down and rededicated himself to fitness in the wake of another frustrating playoff exit.
The 2025 NBA postseason didn’t go the way Luka Doncic or the Mavericks had envisioned. After a promising regular season, the Dallas Mavericks crashed out earlier than expected, and much of the conversation afterward centered on Doncic’s limitations—specifically on the defensive end. The Los Angeles Lakers’ early elimination in the first round at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves served as a backdrop to larger debates around Western Conference stars, but it was Luka who found himself under the microscope.
Though undeniably brilliant on the offensive end—averaging near triple-doubles and putting up gaudy scoring numbers—Doncic’s fitness has long been questioned. Against Minnesota, the Timberwolves made it a point to attack him relentlessly. Whether it was Anthony Edwards blowing by him on switches or Karl-Anthony Towns forcing mismatches, Doncic often found himself exposed. Analysts and fans alike pointed to his conditioning as a key factor holding him back from reaching that next level as a complete player.
“You can be a magician with the ball,” said one anonymous Western Conference coach, “but if you’re a traffic cone on defense, teams are going to target you every time in the playoffs.”
The problem isn’t new. Since entering the league, Doncic has faced criticism for coming into training camp out of shape and playing himself into form during the early part of the season. It’s become something of a pattern, and while his offensive brilliance often overshadows those concerns during the regular season, the playoff spotlight leaves no room for flaws.
This offseason, there was a different buzz surrounding Luka. Social media photos and workout videos showed him looking leaner, quicker, and more agile. Reports suggested he had taken the criticism to heart and committed to a better diet and more consistent training routine.
But Paul Pierce remains unconvinced.
“I’ve seen this story before,” Pierce said. “The league stops practicing hard mid-season, the body gets worn down, and old habits come back. Luka’s a generational talent, no doubt. But if he don’t fix that conditioning for good, he’ll always be just shy of greatness.”
Pierce’s skepticism might sound harsh, but it reflects a broader question NBA fans and analysts are asking: Can Luka Doncic finally put his fitness concerns behind him and lead a team deep into the playoffs?
For now, the regular season will offer early glimpses. But as Pierce insinuates, the real test comes in the grind of the winter months—and ultimately, in the crucible of the postseason.
Until then, all eyes will be on Luka. Not just for his dazzling passes and clutch scoring, but for whether he can rewrite the narrative that’s quietly followed him since his rookie year.