The Lakers didn’t just trade for Luka Doncic — they went all in. Pushed every chip to the center of the table. Gave up Anthony Davis, reset their timeline, and handed the keys to a 25-year-old offensive genius who’s supposed to carry L.A. through the next era. But instead of a title run, they got bounced in the first round. And for all of Luka’s no-look passes and logo threes, one issue keeps haunting him: defense.
He doesn’t try on that end. Or at least, it doesn’t look like it. And in the playoffs, that’s a death sentence. When the Timberwolves turned Crypto.com Arena into a cardio test, Luka flunked. Again. Just like he did in Dallas. And while the highlight reels are still running, the questions have gotten louder — can you really build around a guy who gives up as much as he gets?
Luka Doncic’s Bag Is Deep — But So Is the Other Team’s Scoring Run
Luka’s defensive issues didn’t start in L.A. — they followed him from Dallas like an unpaid tab. While fans marveled at no-look dimes and one-legged step-backs, the Mavs front office was stressing over the scale. Internally, they wanted Luka at 245 pounds. But whispers of him pushing into the 260s turned into real concern.
Austin Rivers, never one to sugarcoat, recently aired it all out on his podcast Off-guard with Austin Rivers — and it wasn’t just analysis. It was a wake-up call.
Mar 17, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) shoots the ball against Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) in the second half at the Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
“You’re too good, you’re too f**king talented,” Rivers said. “You hear this sh*t — from the Mavs owner, from Nico, from TV. I saw Windhorst after the Finals say, ‘I don’t know if it’s possible to win with Luka playing this type of defense.’”
It wasn’t hate. It was honesty. “You’re an offensive monster. Do your thing. But on defense? You just can’t be a liability. You don’t need to be great — just average.”
That’s the bar. Try harder, move quicker, rotate sharper. Half of defense is effort. The rest is feel. Luka Doncic might never be Jrue Holiday — but nobody’s asking him to be.
“Top-3 guys don’t deal with this,” Rivers added. “Nobody questions Jokic’s stamina or Shai’s conditioning. With Luka? It’s always something.”
And that “something” became a pattern. The 19-game calf strain in December 2024 wasn’t just bad luck — it was a red flag. Mavs insiders questioned his buy-in, leadership, and long-term upside. Eventually, they pulled the plug and swapped him for Anthony Davis.
Luka’s still a skill-level superstar. But when it comes to conditioning, durability, and defensive effort – he’s chasing the pack.
Steph Figured It Out. So What’s Luka Waiting For?
The move to L.A. didn’t fix the narrative. Luka’s weight and defense didn’t magically improve — they just got repackaged in purple and gold. The Lakers talked fresh starts, but the film said the same story: slow rotations, heavy feet, and Luka getting hunted in every playoff switch.
That’s the frustrating part. Offensively, he’s still elite. Luka Doncic put up 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 7.7 assists, and 1.8 steals on a 58.7% true shooting clip. You don’t bench that kind of production. But defense? His 111.6 defensive rating, 0.4 blocks, and 3.6 turnovers tell the other half of the story — the part that hurts you when the games actually matter.
Steph Curry used to live in that same spotlight. He was the mismatch. The guy teams chased in switches. But he worked. Got stronger. Got smarter. Learned how to survive on that end — not by becoming elite, but by committing. “Steph was hidden for years,” Austin Rivers said. “But he tried. He got better.”
That’s the model. Luka doesn’t need to be Jrue Holiday. But the effort? The body language? The buy-in? That’s non-negotiable. Because if Steph — an undersized shooter — could evolve into a passable playoff defender, what’s Luka’s excuse?
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