DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - After a three-month-long hiatus from competitive play, Mavs star Luka Doncic has begun to work with a professional trainer, Jure Drakslar, in order to get back in game shape before the resumption of the season on July 31st in Orlando.
Via an interview with Eurohoops.net, Drakslar noted that, not unlike most NBA stars at the moment, Doncic is not in the ideal game shape. That said, Doncic is working hard to return to that form thanks to a carefully crafted dietary structure and regimen of workouts created by Drakslar himself.
"We have taken full control of Luka's food," Drasklar said. "We have a whole plan, our own cook who prepares meals based on my instructions. Doncic practically does not eat anything except what we cook for him."
The good news is, Doncic didn't just start this plan recently, but has been working diligently with the Khimki Moscow strength and conditioning coach for nearly a month already, and as Drakslar notes, he is far from the only NBA star who needed to get back to work.
"We have been working together for the last three weeks," Drakslar said. "Luka was previously in quarantine and trained individually at home. The last three weeks we have been working hard to prepare him for the resumption of the NBA season. Most players struggled to stay in shape. Doncic is no exception. We understand his role in Dallas. Luka is improving every day. He puts in a lot of effort. He has completely dedicated himself to be ready."
Spending this time with Drakslar in his native Slovenia, Doncic is making good progress but needs to take the next step. And what does that look like? Drakslar says it starts with coming back to the states and beginning some competitive play on the court with others.
"The next step is returning to the States and "begin practicing with his teammates,'' the trainer says. "Training alone is not enough ... He can play with his group of countrymen in Slovenia, but it is not like training alongside his teammates in Dallas.''
The Mavs season is set to resume on July 31st in Orlando, though an updated schedule for the participating teams has yet to be revealed.
