Dallas Mavericks starLuka Doncic said he had to lose weight after a loss in December.- Doncic said he switched his diet up to include more chicken and vegetables.
Many NBA prognosticators expected Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic to be an MVP candidate before the start of the season.
But the 22-year-old Slovenian forward underperformed by his standards for the first two months. After a loss to the Brooklyn Nets on December 8, Doncic said in the postgame press conference that he had to lose weight and improve his conditioning.
Two days later Doncic went on the injured list until the end of the December, but came back in January and his play has steadily improved. Since January 19, he's been one of the
Now, he is set to play in his third All-Star game.
Doncic said he changed his diet during the season to include more chicken, vegetables, and rice, in an interview with The Dallas Morning News. He said he chose chicken as his main protein source because he doesn't like fish, which is a popular protein among NBA stars including Kevin Love and Kevin Durant for its anti-inflammatory properties.
Doncic's low-carb approach has helped other current and former NBA stars get in better shape
Doncic's preference for chicken and vegetables could be helping him get more protein, vitamins, and fiber into his diet while minimizing carbs and fats.
Other NBA stars have followed a similar approach to stay fit as well.
Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden previously told Sports Illustrated that he eats chicken and either pasta or rice before every game.
Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson streamlined his meals down to meat and protein and went so far as to replace hamburger buns with lettuce wraps, he told GQ, to avoid unnecessary processed carbs and get more vitamins and nutrients.
NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal told Men's Health that he used a diet that consisted of chicken, fish, and vegetables every day to lose 30 lbs and get abs again at the age of 50 for the first time since 2006.