Luka Doncic has already built a résumé that puts him among the NBA’s elite, but one of his Slovenia teammates thinks the Lakers star may still have a season that tops them all.
Edo Muric, who has played alongside Doncic for the Slovenian national team, said the 27-year-old looks sharper every time he sees him. Muric pointed to Doncic’s age, his physical growth, and what he’s shown with the ball as reasons to believe the next step could be his biggest one yet.
“Luka looks better and better when I see him every year now. He is now at that age where he is at a peak of his powers.
He’s not a kid anymore, now he’s a man and he really looks good. I had a chance to feel that on my own skin.
Everytime I see him with a ball he’s better and better. So I can’t wait for the next season to see him in even bigger role with Lakers.
I just hope he stays healthy whole season. Because really, this could be his best season yet and I’m really looking forward to that.”
That optimism lines up with the attention Doncic’s offseason has already drawn. He has spent much of it in Europe, and his physical transformation has become a talking point as he works to put injuries from the past two seasons behind him.
Reports say he first focused on fully recovering before moving into an extensive conditioning program with longtime personal trainer Ante Macek. His official weight has reportedly fallen to around 235.5 pounds, and he reportedly has not been this physically prepared in a long time.
The timing matters because Doncic is coming off a massive 2025-26 season that was still interrupted by injuries. He averaged 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 8.3 assists, won his second scoring title, and helped the Lakers finish 53-29. Even with that level of production, he finished fourth in MVP voting and did not receive a first-place vote.
This season, the setup changes dramatically. LeBron James’ departure for the Philadelphia 76ers leaves Doncic as the clear face of the Lakers. There won’t be any confusion about who runs the offense or whose team it is.
That could unlock even more production. Last season, Doncic averaged 35.1 points in 15 games without James, a stretch that hints at how big his numbers could get with the offense fully centered on him.
The MVP conversation is already building, too. ESPN’s Tim MacMahon said the Lakers’ win total and Doncic’s usual production - or better - would make a strong case for his first MVP award. MacMahon also said Doncic has not looked this lean since entering the NBA.
Still, there are questions he has to answer. Former NBA champion Channing Frye recently wondered whether Doncic’s extremely ball-dominant style can translate to a title, saying he needs to trust teammates more and lighten the load. Doncic led the league with a 36.0% usage rate last season, which makes his conditioning all the more important given his injury history.
That is why the work he’s done this summer could matter so much. A healthier Doncic, in better shape, should be able to handle a heavy offensive burden, stay fresher late in the year, and potentially hold up better on defense.
He has already stacked up two scoring titles, an NBA Finals appearance, and a long list of absurd numbers. But at 27, he may still be heading into his physical prime.
If the offseason changes carry over, the Lakers may not just be getting another huge Luka Doncic year. They may be getting the best one of all.
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