Luka Doncic has faced his fair share of critics over the years, but the latest callout hits a little deeper. Former Lakers big man Samaki Walker didn’t mince words when addressing Doncic’s past comments about the NBA being “soft,” accusing the 5x All-NBA guard of disrespecting the league and calling into question his willingness to play defense.
“I personally feel — and I love Luka offensively — but I feel like over the last few years, he disrespected the NBA because I follow him,” said Walker. “He goes back to Europe and talks about how soft the NBA is, yet he doesn’t play any defense. You know what I’m saying? So, yeah, I take that personally.”
In a recent interview on the ‘Coach JB Show,’ Walker challenged Doncic not just to stay in shape but to show that he has the mentality to impact the game on both ends of the floor. For Walker, the ultimate test for Luka will measure his respect for the craft and accountability as a superstar. First, it starts on the defensive end, where Doncic has notoriously struggled in the past.
“I wanna see if he’s in shape and he has the mentality to play defense ’cause, hell, you can get in shape, but it still takes a mentality to play D, you know what I’m saying? A lot of time, these guys don’t wanna play defense because they don’t wanna look bad because of their brand,” said the former Lakers big man.
Walker explained that the decline of defense in today’s game is due to players’ inflated egos and being overprotective of their NBA legacy. He wants Doncic to be different from the rest and approach the game with a selfless yet competitive mentality.
“They are so immature in their approach that competition is lacking and taking a hit because of the immature approach to basketball. And that shouldn’t happen. And so, yeah, I wanna challenge this kid,” Walker continued. “I wanna see if he’s really about that on both ends of the floor, not just an offensive guy.”
With career averages of 28.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game, we already know what Luka Doncic can do offensively. As it stands, he’s one of the best scorers in the game, and he can get a bucket anywhere on the court. On the other end, however, Luka isn’t nearly as strong as he could be, and it’s part of what led to his breakup with the Mavericks.
The good news is, it’s been a transformative summer for Doncic, and it’s setting him up for his best season yet. After months of training, conditioning, and honing his craft, Luka is slimmer than he’s ever been, and he’s motivated to dominate at a whole new level after being dismissed by the Mavs.
Ultimately, how Luka performs on defense will be entirely up to him. With enough effort and attention to detail, he can become a valuable defender for the Lakers next season, and it could be the difference that elevates them into true title favorites.
If Luka Doncic is truly serious about leading the Lakers to a championship, defense can’t be optional; it has to be a priority. Samaki Walker’s comments may seem harsh, but they reflect a growing expectation across the league: it’s time for Doncic to prove he’s more than just a scoring machine.
This season, he’ll have every opportunity to respond. With LeBron James still in the mix, a revamped supporting cast, and his own commitment to growth, Luka has all the tools to evolve into a complete player. Whether he accepts that challenge is what the basketball world will be watching closely.
