Luka Doncic goes full Men’s Health while the Mavericks go full smear campaign

What started as a sports breakup between Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks has escalated into something resembling institutional drama. The February 1 trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis shocked the NBA—not just for the star power involved, but for how unexpected it was. What followed was even more unsettling: a smear campaign that, according to Marca, remains active and could intensify.

Mavs fans didn’t forgive the loss of Luka Doncic. The backlash was immediate, with threats to cancel season tickets and a flood of criticism aimed at GM Nico Harrison, the architect of the deal. To justify what many saw as a self-inflicted disaster, Harrison allegedly launched a media offensive against Doncic, leaking claims about his weight, lack of discipline, and even suggesting that his wrist sprain was a cover to skip a road trip.

Our digital cover star, Luka Doncic, ready to take his game (and the Lakers) to new levels of dominance. And this summer shred has been years in the making.https://t.co/aB19DY7rrL pic.twitter.com/bjVsf1ampI

— Men’s Health Mag (@MensHealthMag) July 28, 2025

Doncic responds with buckets

But Luka Doncic did what he does best—he let his game do the talking. In 28 games with the Lakers, Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists, silencing doubts about his fitness. His physical transformation, featured on the cover of Men’s Health, and his recent three-year, $165 million extension with the Lakers are proof that Luka is more focused than ever.

Still, the war isn’t over. ESPN’s Marc Spears reported that the Mavericks may be preparing new leaks to further damage Doncic’s image. Spears hinted that there are stories yet to be told, and that the Mavs could resort to them out of spite and envy over Luka Doncic’s success in Los Angeles.

 

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Una publicación compartida de Luka Doncic (@lukadoncic)

Smears and accusations

Among the latest accusations, The Athletic cited sources within the Dallas Mavericks who pointed to Doncic’s alleged fondness for beer and shisha as red flags for his long-term health. Luka Doncic has chosen not to respond publicly, but a close friend defended him online with a blunt message: “You don’t put up those numbers if you’re a fat drunk pig.”

The narrative is clear. Everything that brings joy to Luka Doncic seems to trigger bitterness in the Mavericks front office. And while Doncic continues writing his story on the West Coast, the leak machine in Dallas keeps spinning.