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Reading: Luka Doncic Is Proving He Can Defend On The Lakers: Stats Show He Is Underrated In This Category
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Home > NBA News & Analysis > Los Angeles Lakers News & Analysis > Luka Doncic Is Proving He Can Defend On The Lakers: Stats Show He Is Underrated In This Category

Luka Doncic Is Proving He Can Defend On The Lakers: Stats Show He Is Underrated In This Category

Luka Doncic's defensive stats over the month of March show the concerns around him being a defensive liability were overblown.

Ishaan Bhattacharya
Mar 26, 2025
5 Min Read
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Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Lakers came flying into the month of March after going 9-2 over February and proving to the NBA that they were one of the best defensive teams in the NBA. They were achieving this defensive success while integrating Luka Doncic into the roster, something which has continued as Doncic has settled into the roster.

Fingers were being pointed at Doncic again after a recent Lakers’ slump has seen their defense look porous once again. While fans were quick to blame Doncic’s prevalence in rotations as the key factor, the statistics show that Doncic is leading the Lakers in defensive rating for March, as one fan pointed out.

Doncic’s individual defensive rating of 112.9 comes over 12 appearances this month, also leading the Lakers in steals (1.8 per game) over this stretch. The next closest to him is Jarred Vanderbilt (113.8). 

The worst defender to have played in 10 more games is Gabe Vincent (121.8), while Rui Hachimura (136.2) holds the throne for overall worst through four appearances, including the Lakers’ last three losses. 

The whole table of their players’ defensive rating this month is very interesting.

Lakers March Individual Defensive Rating

1. Luka Doncic 112.9

2. Jarred Vanderbilt 113.8

3. Jaxson Hayes 114.2

4. Christian Koloko 116.3 

5. Jordan Goodwin 117.9

6. LeBron James 118.9

7. Trey Jemison III 119.4

8. Dorian Finney-Smith 119.6

9. Austin Reaves 120.3

10. Dalton Knecht 121.5

11. Gabe Vincent 121.8

12. Shake Milton 123.8

13. Cam Reddish 124.2

14. Alex Len 127.5

15. Bronny James 129.5

16. Markieff Morris 132.2

17. Rui Hachimura 136.2

There’s no disputing that Doncic has a weakness as a perimeter defensive option, especially against other guards. However, the Lakers have put him in protected defensive situations with the guard picking his spots effectively to be arguably the team’s best defender this month. 


Luka Doncic’s Defense Is Not Perfect, But It’s Better Than Advertised

His defense has been rightfully questioned at points in the past, but many Dallas Mavericks fans know that Doncic has always shown flashes of elite defensive ability. Unfortunately, his offensive burden is so great that it’s hard for him to be able to maximize his efforts on both ends of the court.

He had a sub-110 defensive rating during his time with the Mavericks this season, but his overall numbers have settled at a 111.1 defensive rating for the season. He even felt like he was having the best defensive season of his career before his December calf injury, during which he was traded to the Lakers.

His March defense has still been worse than his season average, but he’s been far more usable on that front than his teammates over this situation.

Doncic has the frame to be a really strong post defender, especially against opposing power forwards. He can’t be moved from his spot easily and is big enough to compete against most fours in the NBA right now. 

As a result, he has been put in similar situations in LA and rarely tasked with being the POA option on the opposing team’s best player.

Luka is averaging 27.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 7.8 assists in 18 games since joining the Lakers. After the Mavericks made comments about Doncic’s poor defense and immature habits, it’s clear they motivated the Slovenian star into taking his body as seriously as possible. 

Even if it doesn’t result in a championship in the next season or two, Doncic will have lifelong motivation to dominate in the NBA because of how the Mavs traded him.

Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We really appreciate your support.

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Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.

TAGGED:Los Angeles Lakers ArchiveLuka Doncic
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ByIshaan Bhattacharya
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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher Report, Yahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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