Luka Doncic has been one of the most prominent on-ball players in the NBA over the last seven years. Since getting drafted in 2018, Doncic has evolved into one of the best offensive players in the NBA, winning the scoring title last season while also nearly averaging 10 assists per game. His ability to score and pass is second to none, which explains why he’s at his most effective with the ball in his hands.
Doncic’s on-ball load has been a controversial topic for years and is now rearing its head just 18 games into his Los Angeles Lakers tenure. Chris Broussard slammed Doncic for being a ball hog.
“Luka Doncic is a ball hog. A great ball hog. A Hall of Fame ball hog (future). An all-time elite ball hog. HE’S A BALL HOG.”
“I’ve watched him throughout his career but that game, it was over the top. This was ridiculous,” he continued. “You got all these guys just standing, watching you. He took nine shots in the first quarter, okay? And actually took four or five free throws, so he probably took 11 shots in the first quarter.”
“Here’s the thing: it’s one thing to be a ball hog when you got Tim Hardaway as a teammate, heck, even Jalen Brunson and Kyrie Irving. But when you are going five-out and everybody’s standing there watching you operate and LeBron James is your teammate, that ain’t good. Here’s where the problem is: Look at LeBron. LeBron’s like — he’s treating LeBron like how Chris Bosh and Kevin Love felt when it was LeBron and D-Wade, and LeBron and Kyrie.”
.@Chris_Broussard is delivering some bad news to Lakers fans 👀
“Luka Doncic is a ball hog. A great ball hog. A Hall of Fame ball hog (future). An all-time elite ball hog. HE’S A BALL HOG.” 😅🤣 pic.twitter.com/Yr0VpJNZPW
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) March 25, 2025
Doncic has been averaging 27.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 7.8 assists since joining the Lakers in February. His usage rate since joining the Lakers is at 36.1%, higher than what he had on the Dallas Mavericks this season (33.0%), explaining why Broussard is upset.
Doncic’s usage rate has steadily decreased over the last three seasons, so it’s clear he’s addressing this flaw in his game. It hasn’t been the same in LA, as he’s being given greater on-ball reps to make him comfortable within the team’s offensive system. When everyone’s healthy, it should trickle down, as Austin Reaves and LeBron James have remained incredibly productive.
Luka is one of the most on-ball-heavy players in the NBA. When you look at his offensive production and ability to break down defenses, it makes sense. However, it also allows opposing teams to attack him until he breaks or becomes inefficient, creating issues for the team going forward.
The simplest solution will be to rely on Reaves and LeBron more, employing Doncic as the non-ball-handling option on a pick-and-pop or using him as a decoy more often to set up easier looks for Reaves, LeBron, and others.
Doncic can adjust his playstyle to be less ball-focused, as we saw him adjust to Kyrie Irving over his Mavericks tenure.
It just takes a while for Luka to develop that chemistry with his teammates, although his gradual increase in numbers since joining the Lakers proves he’s fitting in well for now. Having a cerebral co-star like LeBron alongside a forward-thinking head coach like JJ Redick will make this transition smoother.
Doncic having a 36.0% usage rate might not be sustainable for Playoff success given how the Lakers are built. The remaining regular-season games will be where we find out if Doncic can adjust to a more off-ball style to maximize what the pieces around him can provide.
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