Report: Mavs talked to Luka about losing weight

Key figures within the Dallas Mavericks have spoken to superstar Luka Doncic about decreasing his preferred playing weight this summer, according to The Athletic’s Tim Cato.

The 24-year-old has struggled with conditioning and has faced scrutiny for his defensive struggles.

Doncic is set to play for the Slovenian national team in the FIBA World Cup, which begins in late August.

After Doncic played for Slovenia in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, leading his country to a fourth-place finish, the Mavericks star reportedly showed up to training camp weighing 260 pounds – far exceeding his preferred playing weight of 230.

“I had the Olympics, took three weeks off, and I relaxed a little bit. Maybe too much,” Doncic told ESPN in December 2021.

The Mavericks are entering their first full season with Kyrie Irving on the roster after acquiring him in February and re-signing him to a three-year, $126-million deal. They added forward Grant Williams in free agency and center Richaun Holmes via trade.

Doncic averaged a career-high 32.4 points last season, along with 8.6 rebounds and eight assists. He earned All-NBA first-team honors for the fourth straight year, but the Mavericks finished 38-44 and missed the postseason for the first time since Doncic’s rookie campaign.

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