Luka Doncic's friend gives Lakers fans even more reason to be excited for this season

There is nothing like a glowing endorsement from a close friend. That is exactly what Boban Marjanovic gave Luka Doncic ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season.

The pair spent multiple seasons together on the Dallas Mavericks before Marjanovic moved to the Houston Rockets for his final years in the NBA. Jason Fitz asked the former teammate of Doncic's to walk everyone through what he has seen from Luka's incredible body transformation.

"He loves to work," Marjanovic said of Doncic. "He's always in the gym. He always works out. He always competes. He wants [the] best of himself. ... He's super strong, super powerful. ... I know how much effort, how much he worked this summer, ... full respect to him."

Marjanovic jokingly ensured that everyone knew these comments were not being made just because the two are close. The former NBA pro said he was not quite sure the role that the blockbuster trade played in Doncic's transformation. However, Marjanovic certainly believed in Doncic's mental strength moving forward.

Luka Doncic is poised to set the NBA world on fire in 2025-26

Marjanovic added that both the physical and mental should be a big part of Doncic being able to accomplish his goals, from a personal and professional level. The mindset of Luka is undeniable and Boban could not wait to see what the future holds for the Los Angeles Lakers superstar.

That is a feeling Los Angeles fans can certainly share in. Doncic's lean physique has sparked the wonder of all Lakers fans in just how high the team can reach in 2025-26.

Many will quickly, and rightfully, recall that Doncic's Mavericks made the NBA Finals in 2024 after the Slovenian superstar participated in the FIBA World Cup during the 2023 offseason. That was all without the personal vendetta that has supercharged him all the more.

With the NBA announcing the full schedule on Thursday, the Lakers were afforded the opportunity to settle into the new team and come out of the gates hot thanks to a cupcake start to the new campaign. This should also allow Doncic to properly establish this as his team.

Fans in Los Angeles will be readying the MVP chants for the upcoming season. If Marjanovic were a betting man, it sure sounds like the Serbian big man would be all-in on Doncic.