Luka Doncic may have slimmed down, reconditioned, and recommitted to winning—but even with a revamped body and record-breaking contract, one of his game’s biggest flaws remains under the microscope: defense.
Fortunately for the Lakers, Dončić is now paired with a teammate who’s built his reputation shutting down opposing stars.
Luka Doncic: “Marcus is Going to Teach Me Some Things”
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Following his $165 million, three-year extension with the Los Angeles Lakers, Dončić acknowledged the area of his game that most needs improvement.
“I think [I will play defense] way better,” Dončić said at his press conference. “You got Marcus, so he’s going to teach me some things. But that’s going to help a lot.”
The Marcus in question is Marcus Smart, the 2022 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, whom Dončić personally recruited after Smart secured a buyout from the rebuilding Washington Wizards.
“When you get a guy like Luka calling… trying to see where you’re at, to join something special… for him to say he could really use my help—that meant a lot,” Smart said during his own introduction in L.A.
Lakers Rebuild Around Dončić—and Defense
Dončić, who now becomes the franchise’s long-term centerpiece with LeBron James entering the twilight of his career, has emphasized championship ambition. To that end, he helped facilitate the additions of both Smart and former No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton.
“I think we had two great, great guys. I played against them before, never with them. So now I’m happy they are on my team,” Dončić said.
Smart’s defensive presence arrives at a critical time. During the Lakers’ first-round playoff exit at the hands of the Timberwolves, Dončić was relentlessly targeted by opposing offenses.
“He was the weak link,” wrote analyst Mike Jagacki, who called it “one of the worst defensive performances” he’d seen in a must-win game.
A Physical and Mental Reset
Dončić knows those playoff lapses weren’t just about effort—they were about conditioning.
This summer, the 26-year-old radically transformed his lifestyle. In a recent Men’s Health feature, Dončić revealed he’s adopted a strict intermittent fasting routine—16 hours per day, six days a week—combined with a gluten-free, low-sugar, high-protein diet.
“This offseason, every day but Sunday, I fast from 8:30 PM to 12 noon,” Dončić said. “Just visually, I would say my whole body looks better.”
He reportedly dropped between 22 to 26 pounds and has no plans to revert. “If I stop now, it was all for nothing,” he told the magazine.
Can Smart Unlock the Two-Way Dončić?
Despite averaging 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists last season in limited action due to injury, Dončić knows the gap between “great” and “champion” lies on the defensive end—and Smart might be the bridge.
Known for guarding everyone from point guards to power forwards, Smart brings a gritty, adaptable style that the Lakers sorely lacked last season. Though not an offensive juggernaut, Smart’s 1.1 steals per game and high defensive IQ are expected to fill gaps Dončić can’t cover alone.
And with LeBron, Austin Reaves, and Ayton able to carry much of the offensive burden, Smart’s role is clear: patch the holes and teach Luka how to hold the line.
Luka’s Commitment Sets the Tone
From two-a-day workouts in Croatia to overhauling his diet, Dončić has shown a level of offseason commitment that could reshape his trajectory.
“I would just say a little bit of everything,” he said. “Obviously, a little bit faster… condition-wise, that’s going to be the best for me.”
The Lakers have built their future around him. Now it’s up to Luka—and Marcus—to fix what’s been broken and push this team back into championship relevance.