The Los Angeles Lakers were given a scare last week with Luka Dončić appearing to suffer a knee injury in action with Slovenia. Thankfully, the injury scare was short-lived, with Luka able to finish the game and no concerning injury updates emerging since. It will bring a sigh of relief for Lakers fans who were anxiously awaiting news of their star. While Luka is typically durable, there is a heightened level of concern with the recent training changes the star has made.
Much of the reason the Dallas Mavericks kicked the current Laker to the curb was cited as concerns about the health of the superstar. While the Mavs didn't out and out call Luka names, the implication of the reports was alarming. The franchise traded away the face of the franchise in the dead of night and then went on a smear campaign after parting ways with the player who had just taken the team to the NBA Finals.
With this in mind, it hasn't come as a surprise that Luka has spent the offseason getting his revenge. The star has obviously shed a fair amount of weight and appears to be in incredible shape. Nothing is quite as motivating as a bad breakup, and that is exactly what the past weeks have told about the star's mindset.
Po tekmi v Rigi bo ekipa v ponedeljek nadaljevala priprave na EuroBasket – že v torek nas v Areni Stožice čaka obračun z Veliko Britanijo. 💪
— Košarkarska zveza SIovenije (@kzs_si) August 17, 2025
Z ekipo bo treniral tudi kapetan Luka Dončić, ki je tekmo proti Latviji na srečo končal brez poškodbe. 🔥#mojtim | #EuroBasket pic.twitter.com/M4gb3r1zaV
Luka Puts Lakers Injury Scare Behind Him as Star Continues Impressive Run
However, this drastic physical change does come with an obvious price. It raises questions about how durable the new version of Luka will be in the 2025-26 season. There is a reason why the veteran has been able to take so much punishment and fight under the basket. Luka undergoing such a drastic change does leave a small level of concern when it comes to how his body will hold up under stress.
The first test has gone well with Luka shaking off the knee injury and not only finishing the game but being ready to suit up for the next action. Lakers fans can find some level of hope in this, even with questions still remaining. For Luka, this next season is the star's chance to make a statement. One that the Mavericks will be unable to ignore.
This is especially the case after the franchise lucked into Cooper Flagg and made a series of moves this offseason. Moves that leave every reason for Luka to be salty heading into next season, with an obvious point to prove.