RealGM

Luka Doncic returned to Europe at the start, which has fueled speculation about whether he's stayed in shape during the COVID-19 pandemic. For all of Doncic's talents as a basketball player, he has been scrutinized for his commitment to his fitness.

"There were rumors that Luka, and look, every time Luca goes overseas and people don't see him, there's going to be these rumors," said Tim MacMahon on the Hoop Collective Podcast. "'Luka is beefing up again. He's looking puffy.' That rumor is out there.

"I asked some folks with the Mavs about it and I was told that he looks fine on their Zoom calls. He's been working out. He's actually been playing pickup ball over in Slovenia."

Via Tim MacMahon/ESPN

Slovenia has almost completely eradicated the virus so he's actually in a great country for staying in shape and practicing.

Joel Embiid has stayed in shape by ordering in a lot of fast food. Round is a shape.

This article hints at Doncic being out of shape AND offers no recent quotes from Doncic. It's media candy.

How is that an MVP candidate has been accused of having a questionable commitment to fitness? Where are the past articles about this? Did these articles come before or after he won the Euroleague MVP & championship? In the "modern" NBA where pace is higher than ever, how can an MVP candidate be unfit? LOL Perhaps this is the first of a series of articles laying a fictitious foundation for Doncic's inevitable absence from the 2019 NBA tournament/playoffs.

popfan wrote:This article hints at Doncic being out of shape AND offers no recent quotes from Doncic. It's media candy.

How is that an MVP candidate has been accused of having a questionable commitment to fitness? Where are the past articles about this? Did these articles come before or after he won the Euroleague MVP & championship? In the "modern" NBA where pace is higher than ever, how can an MVP candidate be unfit? LOL Perhaps this is the first of a series of articles laying a fictitious foundation for Doncic's inevitable absence from the 2019 NBA tournament/playoffs.

Exactly! The dude is a natural chubby cheeks/baby face but has never struggled to play and has been killing the NBA for 2 straight seasons.

popfan wrote:This article hints at Doncic being out of shape

no it doesn't. it explicitly says exactly the opposite