NBA star Luka Dončić, 26, is doubling down on fitness this offseason.
In an interview with Men’s Health, the team responsible for Dončić’s fitness and nutrition spoke about his strict regimen this summer to stay in peak form.
It all starts with his diet and a strict intermittent fasting schedule, Dončić’s physiotherapist, Javier Barrio, told Men’s Health.
Every day except on Sundays, the Lakers player fasts from 8:30 p.m. to noon the following day. At the end of his fast, Dončić heads straight into the first of his two daily workouts.
“It’s not so easy to learn,” Barrio said, adding that the goal of fasting is to reduce any post-workout inflammation that Dončić experiences.
To ensure his muscles stay in top condition, Dončić fuels up with 250 grams of protein a day.
He sticks to eggs and chicken during meals and supplements with shakes made from no-sugar, low-carb whey protein isolate.
Dončić’s nutritionist, Lucia Almendros, said that 250 grams of protein is “the minimum” amount he needs to eat in a day.
“If he wants more, he can eat more,” Almendros told Men’s Health.
But a balanced diet is key: Dončić keeps nuts on hand whenever he needs a nutritious snack, and he consumes lots of vegetables. He also often has fruit for dessert.
Although Dončić doesn’t eat gluten, he consumes other types of carbs like rice and potatoes sparingly, Almendros said.
“Depending on the game, depending on the moment of the season, depending on his physical condition, we use carbs — but in a specific moment to have energy in the game or in the training,” Almendros said.
This strict diet plan gets adjusted to accommodate Dončić’s schedule during the NBA season, Barrios said.
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“You can’t eat nothing after 8 p.m.,” Barrios said. “Because half the days you are traveling in this time. You are not able to do a fasting 16:8 during the season — this is impossible.”
In another Men’s Health article from the same interview series, Dončić said his physical condition hasn’t felt this good in years.
“My sleeping, my body, my everything … I felt more rested,” Dončić told Men’s Health.
He said he’s also satisfied with his leaner, more toned physique: “Just visually, I would say my whole body looks better,” Dončić said.
A representative for Dončić did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider outside regular hours.
Despite being a five-time NBA All-Star, Dončić has been criticized for his weight and conditioning throughout his NBA career. In February, he was traded midseason from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis in a deal that surprised many NBA fans.
Pro athletes’ diet and training routines vary.
In 2022, NFL quarterback Justin Fields told Business Insider that he eats a vegan diet for better performance.
“I think the biggest change for me is just how much lighter and faster I feel all around. This change was very drastic for me after I did the challenge with my family and was ultimately the reason I chose to continue a plant-based diet,” Fields said.
In 2023, NFL running back Raheem Mostert told BI he takes an “everything in moderation” approach to his diet and makes small changes to his meals to ensure he always feels his best.
“Prime example; if I’m eating a burger, I probably have no cheese on it just because I know that it’s an inflammatory issue for me,” Mostert said. “So I try to cut out those little things.”
