Wow, Luka has lost weight! The latest issue of Men’s Health magazine features Luka on its cover, reporting that he recently spent two months in seclusion in a small town in Croatia, undergoing intense physical training, with initial results showing. This is exciting news for both the Slovenian national team, which is about to compete in the European Championship, and the Los Angeles Lakers for the upcoming season. The only disappointment is that the magazine didn’t reveal Luka’s current weight or how many pounds he’s lost. From the detailed coverage in the article, it’s clear that Luka’s team carefully planned his summer physical training and intentionally made these details public. In my opinion, Luka’s team did this for three reasons: First, Luka is about to sign a huge contract extension with the Lakers and must show sufficient commitment. Second, after being traded from the Mavericks to the Lakers, Luka’s career is at a critical turning point, and he can no longer rely solely on his existing skills. Third, he needs to use this publicity to refine his image, maximizing commercial benefits in Los Angeles, a major business hub. Regardless of the motivation, a Luka with exceptional skills, a polished image, and a well-controlled physique will undoubtedly be more popular among fans—good news for both the NBA and the Lakers. However, the report didn’t mention what kind of communication James had with Luka before he decided to undergo this transformation. As we all know, James is top-tier when it comes to physical conditioning.

Starting from local time August 2nd, Luka and several other star players became eligible for early contract extensions. Everything is already arranged: Luka will attend an Air Jordan commercial event in Los Angeles on August 3rd, and he took August 2nd off—apparently leaving the day free intentionally for the signing. This suggests that Luka and the Lakers have likely already reached an agreement. The contract may exceed the common speculation of a 3-year deal, potentially being a 4-year, $229 million contract.

Obviously, Luka didn’t just get motivated because the Lakers were eliminated in the first round; this was carefully planned after he was traded from the Mavericks to the Lakers. At the time, the Mavericks’ general manager, unable to explain the trade to fans, spread rumors that Luka neglected physical management, loved high-sugar foods and sugary drinks, and was severely overweight, posing significant injury risks. Perhaps it was these negative reports that made Luka reflect deeply and resolve to change his public image.

Luka choosing this timing to have Men’s Health publish details and photos of his training seems to indicate that the training has ended, and he’s finally ready to show the results. After signing with the Lakers and completing the commercial event, Luka will join the Slovenian national team to prepare for the European Championship. The group stage begins on August 27th in Latvia and Finland. After the group stage, the knockout rounds and finals will be held in Riga, Latvia, starting on September 15th. So, we won’t have to wait for the Lakers’ new season training camp to see what the post-training Luka looks like. As the saying goes, “Whether it’s a mule or a horse, take it out for a run and you’ll know.”