Luka Dončić Downplays Mavericks’ Trade as Reason for Weight Loss (Exclusive)

It’s the summer of Luka!

The Los Angeles Lakers star is taking the offseason by storm — and he’s doing so with a slimmer physique that could be described by one of his nicknames: “Luka Magic.”

In the span of three months, Dončić, 26, has traded in what some had previously criticized as a “dad bod” for a more muscular and slimmer profile, which was on view amid his whirlwind tour of New York City this week.

“I mean, it’s been every summer, you know, but I think just this summer I had a lot more time to try some new things — new nutrition, new food, different practices,” the five-time NBA All-Star tells PEOPLE in an exclusive interview, minutes after surprising NBA employees at an All-Hands meeting and moments before shocking young ballers with his presence at the NBA Store on Fifth Avenue.

He adds with his trademark understatement: “It went well.”

The proof may be in the pudding, not that the dessert would be allowed near Dončić. 

The Slovenian-born phenom, who has been playing professionally since the age of 16, is reportedly eating 250 grams of protein a day, intermittently fasting and participating in two-a-day workouts.

He’s putting in the work, but what’s behind his turnaround?

“I would say winning the championship is my priority,” Dončić says. “You know, you try to do it every year; I didn’t do it yet. Hopefully in the future I will.”

He adds, “So I mean, that was honestly my motivation. We got a new team, we got a whole preseason. You get to know each other, and honestly, I’m very excited to start.”

While those in Dallas are still mourning the blockbuster trade last February that sent the fan favorite from the Mavericks to the Lakers — the team’s front office said it was concerned about Dončić’s conditioning — Luka is taking the high road and looking forward to his first full season on the West Coast.

“Obviously, I like the ocean,” Dončić tells PEOPLE. “I’m excited, the weather’s great. I’ve adapted very good.”

On Instagram, it looks good: Dončić’s fiancée of two years, Anamaria Goltes, has shared a sliver of their lives, where their 20-month-old daughter Gabriela seems also to be enjoying the sand and surf.

All of which has the largely private Dončić publicly declaring his love for fatherhood.

“I mean, it’s the greatest thing in the world,” the doting dad says.

Now entering his eighth year in the league, Dončić’s transformation comes at a time when he’s viewed more as a veteran than a wunderkind on a team that came up short of Lakers fans’ ever-lofty high expectations after their first-round playoff loss in May. 

Is there a ceiling for what this level of Luka — who averaged 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 7.7 assists last season — can accomplish this year?

“There’s always space for improvement,” Dončić says. “You gotta practice a lot and then you gotta be really focused on what you wanna do. So I wanna win the championships, so I’m focused on that.”