The biggest storyline in the NBA at the moment is Luka Doncic’s body transformation over the summer.
The Dallas Mavericks traded Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers midway through last season because of concerns that he would never lead them to a championship.
The key reason was that his physical condition did not measure up to other NBA superstars like Giannis Antetokounmpo and current teammate LeBron James.
Doncic has seemingly worked out more than ever before during the offseason to prove his doubters, especially Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison, wrong.
However, former NBA point guard Jeff Teague thinks Doncic’s training is not about Harrison’s decision to trade him away.
Photo by Harry How/Getty ImagesJeff Teague dismisses Nico Harrison’s role in Luka Doncic’s body transformation
Teague thinks Doncic would be in the same shape if he had stayed on the Mavericks because it has nothing to do with the trade.
Instead, the one-time All-Star believes he is trying to lose weight so that he can prevent injuries going forward, particularly to his lower legs.
“I think he would’ve gotten like that eventually,” Teague said. “People were going to keep calling him fat. He was going to keep hurting his calf.
“I think that’s what it was – the injuries. I don’t think he trained his body the right way. That’s why he kept getting hurt. That calf has been hurt for a minute. It’s too much weight.”
We will never know whether Teague is right or not, but what we do know is that Doncic is expected to have his best season yet.
Jeff Teague picks Giannis Antetokounmpo to win MVP over Luka Doncic
Despite Doncic’s body transformation, which should set him up to have an amazing season with the Lakers, Teague is not picking him to win the Most Valuable Player award.
The 37-year-old is more confident in Antetokounmpo winning it for a third time because he will need to “carry” the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Bucks added Myles Turner in free agency, but the loss of Damian Lillard to an Achilles injury will make life more difficult for the Greek Freak.
“I’ve got Giannis winning MVP. It’s about to be Giannis’ best year,” Teague made his MVP prediction for the upcoming season.
“There’s nobody on his team. He’s about to carry so crazy. He might average 34, 13, and 8. This boy is about to run point guard, basically.”