Macek: “Doncic is aware of the importance of physical preparation”

Luka Doncic can be found on the list of possible MVPs at the start of every season. He was among the candidates last season... although arrived a little late and physically exhausted after juggling the playoffs, Olympic Games and regular season; he was also carrying a few extra kilos and that extra weight affected his ankle and knee.

Despite those problems, the Slovenian point guard finished in all the rankings after a sublime 2022. He finished with and average of 28.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 8.7 assists, and with his Dallas Mavericks seeded for the playoffs in the Western Conference. But by that time however, Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid were too far ahead.

Doncic has openly admitted on more than one occasion that his general fitness is not always as it should be. Usually, it’s an issue that has remained unaddressed - the player hasn’t undertaken any extra treatment during the summer periods. But that has changed this summer, with Eurobasket around the corner, according to Anze Macek, the kinesiologist who has worked with the Madrid youth team graduate in recent years.

“Shortly after the end of the season, he contacted me and said that he wanted to start fitness training immediately. Together with Goran Dragic, they worked for three weeks,” Macek explained to SportKlub Slovenija. “The national team action followed. When he went on vacation, he asked me for a work plan. He is also increasingly aware of the importance of physical preparation”.

Criticism over his weight

This summer will be an important one for Doncic. He will have the opportunity to repeat the continental gold medal that he won with Slovenia at Eurobasket 2017 and he also wants to go one step further in the NBA - a competition in which he has thrived since his arrival in 2018. “He remains active. I am in contact with him almost on a daily basis. He keeps his shape. He will improve everything during the national team practices where he will prepare with maximum effort,” Macek continued.

As for comments about Doncic’s weight, the kinesiologist assures that they only serve to make him more determined. “Luka is a global star. In plain sight. People follow him every step of the way, as far as possible. Therefore, evil tongues also appear very quickly. Maybe they are trying to get to him by commenting on each photo. But that’s really not a good way,” Macek explained. “He always has an answer. This only further motivates him and drives him forward”.