When Luka Doncic was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in February, it sent shockwaves through the league. Dallas had seemingly given up on their 5-time All-Star due to concerns around his conditioning and defense. However, since landing in LA, Doncic has undergone a serious body transformation. He is slimmer, leaner, and apparently more athletic than ever.

Then came Men’s Health’s feature story, boldly titled, “Luka Dončić 2.0 Has Entered the Chat.” It chronicled the Slovenian superstar’s offseason grind, featuring gluten-free diets, two-a-day workouts, and improved explosiveness. One quote stood out, and raised more than a few eyebrows. “This year, we didn’t measure the jumping yet,” Doncic said. “But I think it’s a little bit higher.” He was referring to a vertical leap that Men’s Health claimed was 42 inches back at the 2018 NBA Draft Combine. Only one problem.

NBA podcaster Nick Angstadt quickly set the record straight on X, formerly Twitter. “That Men’s Health article on Luka Doncic claims he had a 42-inch vertical at the combine… but Luka didn’t participate in the combine…It seems like the author just got that from the Google AI summary, which mistakes Donte DiVincenzo’s vertical leap number for Luka’s,” Angstadt wrote.

That 42-inch leap, wasn’t Luka’s. It was Donte DiVincenzo’s. Doncic never attended the combine due to EuroLeague commitments with Real Madrid. And the numbers just don’t support the idea, then or now.

The backlash didn’t stop with fans. Lakers legend Mychal Thompson joined the conversation during an appearance on the Hoops Talk podcast with Allen Sliwa. Expressing deep concern about Doncic’s conditioning, he issued a direct challenge. “Yeah, I want to see what he looks like in October when he reports to training camp,” Mychal Thompson said to Silwa on the Hoops talk. “When JJ Redick said, ‘we need to get in better condition next year,’ I don’t think he was talking about LeBron. Or Austin Reaves or Jarred Vanderbilt. Or Rui Hachimura.” Thompson called on new Lakers head coach JJ Redick to step up and hold Doncic accountable as the face of the franchise.

He continued, claiming that Redick should be direct and assertive with Luka, making it clear that being the face of the Lakers comes with responsibility, especially when it comes to fitness. According to Thompson, those legends were never out of shape. They arrived at training camp prepared, with the stamina to “run and play all day.” By holding Doncic to that same standard, Thompson is underlining that greatness in Los Angeles isn’t just about skill. It’s about dedication, conditioning, and discipline. In short, if Luka wants to wear the crown in L.A., he has to train and prepare like those who wore it before him.

After Lakers legend’s warning, calls for change intensify

Luka Doncic’s offensive numbers continue to impress: 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game. However, his conditioning and defense have consistently come under fire. In the Lakers’ Game 5 playoff loss to the Timberwolves, Doncic surrendered 41 points on defense, exposing a key flaw in his mobility and stamina. The former Mavericks star himself admitted he needed to be better, “Obviously, be the best that I can be, take care of myself,” Doncic told Men’s Health. “This year, with my team, I think we did a huge step. But this is just the start, you know. I need to keep going. Can’t stop.”

Many fans aren’t buying into the offseason hype, especially after Men’s Health falsely claimed Luka had a 42-inch vertical leap, a number that has since been debunked. Comments flocked under Nick Angstadt’s original comment, calling out the inaccuracy. “How do you write ‘Luka Doncic had a 42-inch vertical’ without realizing that player would average 45 points a game 😅,” said one fan, stunned by the claim.

Another added, “Mavs fans know that Luka has never had anything close to a 42 inch vertical jump reach. He can barely dunk.” The excitement around Luka Doncic’s transformation is real. But claims like a 42-inch vertical, especially when proven false, only add unnecessary noise. “Yes, Luka definitely didn’t have 42″ vertical. It was lazy writing,” one fan said bluntly, calling out the article’s credibility.

“I would have been surprised if the piece said he had a 32 inch vert. 42 would be in [Anthony] Edwards territory,” noted a third, making a fair comparison to one of the league’s premier leapers. According to NBA.com’s tracking, Doncic had one dunk last season, with a recorded vertical of 23.4 inches. In fact, since April 2023, he has just three dunks total. For comparison, Gary Payton II, who stands at 6’2″, had 37 dunks last season. While Doncic did dunk more during his rookie season, even then he only notched 25 total slams, hardly the output of a 42-inch jumper.“Is the writer a Laker homer?” asked another, casting aspersions over the motive behind the exaggeration.

One surprised fan, flat out rejected the number,“I was gonna say, 42 is absurd.” However, the real proof will come in October, when Luka takes the floor at training camp and either shows he’s ready to live up to the Lakers’ legendary standards.

If Luka wants to join the likes of Kobe, Magic, and LeBron in Laker lore, he’ll need to prove more than just offensive brilliance. He’ll need to show up lean, locked in, and relentless. The myth of the 42-inch vertical may be dead, but the pressure on Luka Doncic is just getting started.