Luka Doncic Legitimizes Pickleball Training: NBA star Luka Dončić spent the summer of 2025 transforming his body with the help of his training team. According to a Men’s Health article published on July 28, 2025, Dončić dropped weight, built muscle, and included a surprising new activity in his fitness routine: pickleball. His decision has sparked debate among fans and athletes about the legitimacy of the sport.
New Routine Brings Big Changes
Luka Dončić, a standout player in the NBA, took a new approach this summer. Instead of spending long hours on the basketball court, he focused on strength training. His team decided to cut down court time to avoid injury and help his body recover after seven tough NBA seasons.
“This summer, Team Luka’s had three full months to rebuild Dončić. So they dared to eliminate court time—and he disagreed at first. But he quickly filled the time with a weights routine that helped him build total-body strength. And he eventually found a distraction playing pickleball and padel (think: pickleball meets squash), sometimes against friends, sometimes with Barrio and Maček (his trainer and physiotherapist). For Dončić, the new games were a blast from his childhood past, long before he fell in love with basketball. They challenged new muscles, relieving his knees, thanks to fewer vertical jumps, while strengthening adductors, glutes, and ankles with footwork. ‘At the beginning, it was hard,’ he says. ‘I can’t be without basketball. But when I was a little kid, I played a lot of sports.’ He channeled that era—and maintained his competitive fire. ‘There were a lot of angry moments, too, when we would lose,’ he says. ‘But I didn’t lose much.’”
Critics Push Back on Pickleball Praise
Not everyone is celebrating Dončić’s use of pickleball. Some online voices, like those from Barstool Sports, have mocked the idea that the sport could be taken seriously as a fitness tool. While Dončić found value in it for reducing stress on his knees, others see it as a game for the elderly, not for elite athletes.
“Yeah look, when you add pickleball as a supplement of sorts, it makes sense. Less stress on Luka’s knees because you barely move. You just stand there at the net playing glorified ping pong. It’s like Patrick Rafter’s serve-and-volley without the serve.”
Some critics have even called it lazy. They argue that younger people should stick to team sports and more active games.
“What it can do for you is make you lazy. You’re in your 30s and your knees and joints are still in great shape, yet you’re out there wasting your time playing pickleball. You could be playing basketball, or flag football. Hell, I played a flag game up in Warrington a few weeks ago and a 72-year-old was out there with us. 72! You think Jimmy was wasting his youth playing pickleball? Hell nah. He can play pickle in his 80s.”
Playing Pickleball Every Day Turned Luka Doncic Into A $165 Million Extension Man, So Just Think About What It Can Do For You https://t.co/JrViIqMjny
— Jordie (@jordiebarstool) August 5, 2025
Culture Clash Over Sports and Aging
The pickleball debate touches on more than just Dončić’s off-season. A 2022 blog argued that men in their 30s often give up serious sports too soon and turn to low-intensity games like golf and pickleball.
“I can’t speak for the female population, but it seems like a lot of men become dads in their early to mid-thirties, gain their 10–15 pounds, and just give up on team sports entirely. Dad bod, which is supposed to be temporary, ends up becoming permanent. And people who should be capable of still playing flag, basketball, volleyball, soccer, etc – they instead come out of dad mode with golf clubs and a paddle, and they’re never the same. Put that shit down. You can turn to the low-intensity sports when you hit 40. Throw your kid in the carrier and go hiking. Ask your wife to watch the baby so you can play pickup. Strap the toddler into the bike trailer and hit the park. Figure it out. Stop being a bum.”
What This Means for Pickleball and Fitness Trends
Luka Dončić’s use of pickleball as part of his training may influence others to try it, especially those looking for lower-impact sports. But it’s clear the sport still has its critics. Some view it as a symbol of giving up, while others see it as a smart tool for recovery and fun.
As more top athletes use non-traditional methods to stay fit, public opinion may shift. For now, Dončić’s choice has brought both support and strong reactions.
News in Brief: Luka Doncic Legitimizes Pickleball Training
Luka Dončić used pickleball and padel in his 2025 off-season workouts to build strength and ease pressure on his knees. The choice sparked online criticism, with some calling the sport lazy and better suited for older people. The debate highlights growing tension around how athletes train and age.