This week, Luka Dončić, the Dallas Mavericks star, ignited a familiar narrative in the world of professional sports: athletes declaring they are in the best shape of their lives.
As Dončić made appearances promoting a new shoe deal in New York, a feature in Men’s Health shed light on his summer training regimen, which claimed he is not just improving his shooting skills but also building strength and conditioning.
One particularly eye-catching detail from the article suggested that Dončić had previously showcased an incredible 42-inch vertical leap during the 2018 NBA Scouting Combine, but the veracity of this claim has come under scrutiny.
Co-written by Andrew Heffernan and Ebenezer Samuel, the Men’s Health feature details Dončić’s rigorous training routine in Croatia, highlighting that he is committing to a gluten-free, low-sugar diet with a daily intake of at least 250 grams of protein, including almond milk shakes.
However, the backdrop of this story adds intrigue and complexity. The article appears to respond to critiques suggesting that Dončić has become complacent, especially after he was traded away from the only NBA team he had played for.
Comments made by the former team’s general manager painted Dončić as someone lacking in work ethic and defensive capability, despite his impressive statistics of approximately 28 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists per game.
With the Men’s Health article, Dončić may not just be promoting his commitment to fitness but sending a message to his critics and to Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison about his dedication to improvement.
The attention given to Dončić’s summer transformation is not unique among athletes following underwhelming seasons; it is a common tactic to quell doubts and raise expectations.
Interestingly, the focus on Dončić’s vertical leap has sparked conversation, particularly given that he did not attend the 2018 NBA Scouting Combine as he was still with Real Madrid at the time.
This discrepancy raises questions about how the 42-inch figure became associated with Dončić. According to Nick Angstadt of Locked On Mavs, it is possible that an AI-generated summary from Google mistakenly attributed the measurement from Donte DiVincenzo to Dončić.
As of now, a search for Dončić’s vertical yields an inaccurate and nonsensical output from the AI.
Attempts to reach Men’s Health executive editor Ben Court for clarification have gone unanswered as of publication.
A correction has since been added to the bottom of the article, addressing the misinformation surrounding Dončić’s vertical leap.
While this incident is more benign than others, it underscores the importance of careful editorial oversight—especially regarding factual accuracy.
There’s another notable issue with the article in question: a misplaced hyphen in the name of Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Furthermore, the portrayal of Gilgeous-Alexander as primarily known for his dunking ability does not hold up to statistical scrutiny, as he has 204 dunks across seven NBA seasons.
In contrast, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards has achieved 307 dunks in just five years.
Although Gilgeous-Alexander is certainly capable of impressive slams, they are not a defining aspect of his game, making this claim misleading.
The combination of these factual errors within the article raises doubts about the reliability of the editorial team that produced it.
These oversights suggest a lack of a knowledgeable edit on a subject as nuanced as NBA athlete training and performance.
On the broader question of Dončić’s reported transformation, audiences are left weighing how much trust to place in the conclusions drawn by an editorial team that has seemingly mishandled basic details about the athlete it was spotlighting.
In the ever-evolving sports landscape, where narratives can quickly shift, it remains to be seen whether Dončić’s summer sacrifices will translate into success on the court.
For now, fans and critics alike can only wait and see if this intensive training and lifestyle change will yield the results that both the player and his team are hoping for.
image source from：defector
