Luka Doncic has amassed a wide following of fans and critics over the years, and it means his game is constantly under judgment. Even with his team currently out of the playoffs, it didn’t stop former NBA swingman Paul Pierce from speaking his mind about the Slovenian sensation.
“Let’s talk about his mentality on defense ’cause I figure that’s the issue….don’t make this a weight thing and try to throw us off the subject. Rebounding and the effort stuff, that’s hustle mentality, it has nothing to do with his weight,” said Pierce on ‘Speak for Yourself.’ “He needs to learn how to play some damn defense and not get isolated and picked on. That’s the issue with him, not his weight. He can come in there at 300 pounds, but if he gives me 30, eight, and eight, then I’m good. Shaq couldn’t make free throws, but we still took everything else he gave us.”
When it comes to the offensive side of the floor, we already know what Luka Doncic gives. He’s one of the best in the league in that department, averaging 28.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game for this young career. As a 5x All-Star, scoring champion, and 5x All-NBA player, Doncic is among the best of the best, and that’s saying a lot for someone who’s only 26 years old.
But even as great as Luka is at scoring the ball, his deficiencies on the other end can become a major detriment to his team. Since he was drafted third overall in 2018, Doncic has always struggled to stay with his man, and opponents are always going out of their way to exploit it.
These issues are part of the reason why Doncic was traded back in February. After seven years with the Mavericks, they had had enough of his one-sided game and sent him packing to the Lakers in a blockbuster deal. Nobody saw it coming at the time, but the Mavericks confirmed later why they made the trade.
Apparently, Doncic’s refusal to stay in shape led the Mavs to doubt his future and question if they could ever win the championship with him at the helm. His status as a bad defender often made him a target for opponents, and it cost the Mavericks several key victories.
In Los Angeles, Luka is trying his best to move on from the ordeal, but it doesn’t mean he’ll forget. In fact, Doncic is actively using the Mavericks’ betrayal (and their criticisms of his work ethic) to help fuel a better basketball future.
With LeBron James and JJ Redick at his side, Luka has discovered a newfound passion for the gym, and he’s got more motivation than ever before to outwork his teammates and deliver his best season yet. He’ll also be on a special diet as he undergoes indoor training.
On defense, Doncic may never reach the heights of some of his teammates, but with the proper effort and attention to detail, he can stop being a liability on that end of the floor. If Luka is ever able to reach that level, it will unlock a whole new level to his game and the Lakers might just be poised to make a major run in the West. Until then, however, there will always be some concerns about Doncic and his overall potential for success in the NBA.
