It didn’t take long before the Dallas Mavericks realized they had something special with Luka Doncic.
His offensive skill set reminds us of a modern-day Larry Bird, and while he’s likely never going to be as good as a defender as Larry, you could make a case for him being a better passer already.
But as good as Doncic is and as impressive as his stats are, his physical shape has always been a bit of a talking point.
That happened again during Sunday’s game versus the Atlanta Hawks, as Hawks fans started chanting “you are fat” every time he went to the line.
Hawks fans with a "You are fat" chant as Luka Doncic is at the free throw line.
— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) April 2, 2023
Doncic entered the season in the best shape of his career, but that no longer seems to be the case.
He’s been pointed out and criticized for seemingly being careless about his eating and workout habits, and that may take a toll on him down the stretch in both a game and a season.
Notably, that was also the biggest knock on Nikola Jokic before the NBA bubble.
He’s now slimmer than ever and has put together three straight MVP-caliber seasons, and Doncic is still young enough to pull it off as well.
Notably, he’s not likely to make the playoffs this year, so he’ll have more than enough time to get in top shape and get ready for next season.
That’s the only way he’ll be able to live up to his untapped potential, avoid injury, and play with the same intensity throughout the full 48 minutes and an 82-game campaign.
NEXT: Kyrie Irving Talks Long-Term Future With The Mavericks
