Ex-Champion Wants Luka Doncic to Do The Little Things to Help Lakers Teammates on Defense

Los Angeles Lakers are struggling on defense and Luka Doncic's lack of effort is cited as one of the major reasons.

Ex-Champion Wants Luka Doncic to Do The Little Things to Help Lakers Teammates on Defense

Lakers' superstar Luka Doncic (Image via FirstSportz)

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There is no doubt that Luka Doncic is one of the best scorers in the NBA currently. On the other hand, no one has any hesitation in confirming that the Los Angeles Lakers superstar is not the best bet on defense.

That concern plagued him when he led his former team, the Dallas Mavericks, to the 2024 NBA Finals. His sheer lack of effort during that run faced a lot of criticism. When combined with his questionable conditioning, the Mavericks felt they were better off without him, and ended up helping the NBA garner lost fan interest after trading Doncic to the Lakers.

The superstar has fixed his conditioning concerns with an impressive offseason program, which he has continued to this day. On the other hand, his defense, which has improved quite a bit, still lacks enough effort to help the Lakers.

What I do need you to do, though, I need you to care about the other side as much as you care about this side… I need you to do the little things to be able to get the stops, and put us in a position to win.

PJ Tucker said on 7PM in Brooklyn

The NBA champion understands that it is foolish to demand defensive excellence from a player who is not only the offensive engine but also the top scorer every night.

However, if Luka Doncic could just put in some effort and get into better positions to help his teammates, the Lakers could become a much better team.

Carmelo Anthony wants Lakers vets to call out Luka Doncic

As PJ Tucker, who knows a thing or two about how to play defense, continued to point out what Luka Doncic needed to do, 7PM in Brooklyn, host Carmelo Anthony said this:

Luka Doncic needs to increase his effort on defense
Luka Doncic needs to increase his effort on defense (Image via CGTN Sports Scene/X)

This is what guys like UD (Udonis Haslem), those guys in the locker room, on the bench, can really hold Luka accountable… Nobody is barking on Luka.

Carmelo Anthony said

The Hall of Famer gave an example from his playing days, revealing that his veteran teammates, such as Denver Nuggets teammate Kenyon Martin Sr., would call Anthony out on the floor.

That would bring a sense of accountability, and the said player will be inclined to respond by increasing their effort. The New York Knicks great believes the Los Angeles Lakers lack a true veteran who can call out Luka Doncic.

LeBron James, going by his mild self, will not do that. He is on the last leg of his career and may not want to be the one to start a confrontation. Rather, Anthony wants someone else to take the lead and ensure their leading scorer gets some effort in on defense.

Former champion believes Luka Doncic’s Lakers are disconnected

Luka Doncic’s effort on defense is going to be a nightly topic of discussion, especially if the Lakers do not improve defensively as a team. On the topic of being a team, a former champion said this on NBA Today.

That’s not a team, that’s a bunch of individuals. I’m willing to bet everything that I have that is not a group chat with the Lakers. I’m willing to bet there’s no team dinners on the road… That’s showing up to work, do your job, everybody go their own way. And that’s how they perform on the floor.

Kendrick Perkins said

The former center highlighted the lack of chemistry and connectivity among the Lakers players. So far, Kendrick Perkins has not seen anything that indicates the team is a collective.

He reiterated that the coaches and other top executives better start some team chemistry-building sessions. If not, this season will continue in this inconsistent manner.

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