"Nico gave this man an eating disorder" - NBA fans react as Luka Doncic turns down birthday cake on camera from his Lakers teammates 

Luka Doncic celebrated his 26th birthday last night, putting up 31 points, five assists and three steals in a 106-102 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday. After the game, Doncic's Lakers teammates surprised him with a birthday cake but Doncic turned it down, sparking reactions from NBA fans on social media.

Luka Doncic's off-court habits have become popular topics as of late. After the trade that sent Doncic to the Lakers, new information suggests that part of the reason why Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison made the move was Doncic's diet and exercise choices.

Doncic had a history of returning to the Mavericks overweight and lacking conditioning at the beginning of each season. He has also struggled with minor injuries that had him in and out of the lineup for the Mavericks throughout the last two seasons. While Harrison's move could be viewed as a precautionary one, he has been criticized for the move by fans and experts across the country.

After Luka Doncic declined his birthday cake on Friday, fans took the opportunity to say their piece:

"Nico really gave this man an eating disorder," joked one fan.

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"Don’t worry, we won’t trade you over cake," said another, defending the new Lakers superstar.

"Nico ruined basketball for me. I hope that all the bad things in life happen to him and the Adelsons, and only him and the Adelsons," another fan commented about the Mavericks' general manger.

"Whether he’s watching his diet or not… the unfit narrative is out there, so no way is he going to eat in front of a camera," argued another fan. "The meme would be out there and viral in 2 seconds."

"Bro imagine not eating a slice of a cake that your coworkers got you haha. But I get it," jested another fan.

"Leave him alone on his bday," said one fan, supporting Doncic's decision.

Luka Doncic is starting to come into his own as a Laker

Luka Doncic took some time to fully recover from a calf strain and get adjusted to the Lakers after being traded on February 1, but he has started to find his stride with his new team. Over the last four games he has played, Doncic has scored more than 20 points in three of them, putting up a triple-double with 19 points in the only game he didn't.

The Lakers, now on a five-game winning streak, will be pleased with this improvement and would benefit from Doncic being at his very best with the postseason creeping closer. LA is fourth in the Western Conference and aims to continue its winning streak on Sunday when they face the Clippers again.