JJ Redick celebrates how Luka Doncic is in great shape to start the 2026-27 season

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Throughout his career, Luka Doncic has been a fantastic player, but he has struggled to remain in good shape. He tends to build his fitness over a long season, as he often starts the season not at his physical peak.

Of course, even when he is not at his best, he still manages to pull off some fantastic feats at the start of the season over the years. However, sitting out the entirety of the Los Angeles Lakers' 2026 postseason might have motivated him to stay in shape from the jump.

Luka Doncic is in great shape for the start of the 2026-27 season

In the 2025-26 season, Doncic managed to play 64 games, which was one short of him earning any accolades at the end of the season. Despite missing out on the threshold, he did have some of the most impressive numbers of any player.

He averaged 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game last season. Considering that he has focused on being more durable this season, he could match or even surpass those numbers, especially without LeBron James around.

MORE: JJ Redick gets real about how the Lakers' focus on conditioning for the 2026-27 season

Being durable and more comfortable seems to be some of Doncic's points of emphasis for the 2026-27 season. It will be challenging, but Lakers head coach JJ Redick is seeing the effort that Doncic has put in so far.

"He's great physically. I mean, the guy worked his butt off all summer. Staying in shape and actually ran this summer. Like he actually did sprints and stuff, and came into camp in fantastic shape," Redick said about Doncic being in great shape for the 2026-27 season.

Since Redick has emphasized that conditioning will be part of the 2026-27 season for the Lakers, it seems their leader and star player is already setting a good example. It will be challenging, but it seems the players are delivering on that goal.