Paul Pierce Reveals Major Hurdle Stopping Luka Doncic Getting Crowned as ‘Best NBA Player’

NBA legend Paul Pierce claims Luka Doncic may never be the league’s best player.

Paul Pierce Reveals Major Hurdle Stopping Luka Doncic Getting Crowned as ‘Best NBA Player’

Paul Pierce on Luka Doncic (Image credits - Firstsportz)

Ever since being drafted into the NBA in 2018, Luka Doncic has steadily grown into one of the best players in the league. Doncic has been one of the best players this season and is currently a top-three contender for the league MVP award. The Slovenian guard is coming off an impressive 110-93 victory over the Toronto Raptors, where he recorded 25 points, two rebounds, and seven assists.

After the blockbuster Doncic-Anthony Davis trade last season, it is clear that Luka Doncic is the focal point of the Los Angeles Lakers heading forward, despite LeBron James‘ impressive numbers after turning 41.

The Lakers management have built their roster around Doncic in the offseason as they prepare for life in the post-James era. The guard currently leads the league in scoring and is averaging 33.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 8.6 assists.

After a strong start to the 2025-26 campaign, the Lakers have suffered a few bumps over the last few weeks. Halfway into the season, the ‘Purple and Gold’ find themselves in sixth place in the Western Conference standings with a 25-16 record. Things are going to get a bit tricky now, as they head off on an eight-game road trip.

One of the main reasons for the struggles in recent weeks is due to their poor defense. While there is no doubt that Doncic is arguably the best offensive player in the league, his lack of contribution in the defensive third has led to a lot of criticism.

And it is unfair to expect James to perform at a high level on both ends of the floor at his current age. Lack of defensive energy and poor wing defenders are major reasons the Lakers are not viewed as championship contenders this season.

Former NBA champion Paul Pierce knows what it takes to win a championship. On the most recent episode of No Fouls Given, the Boston Celtics legend said that Doncic will win an MVP one day but never be considered the best player in the league because of his lack of defense.

I don’t think you can be the best player in the league without playing the opposite ends of the ball. Yeah, you can win the MVP, but I don’t think you can be considered the best player in the league. Luka will win the MVP one day, right now, we think he’s the fourth or fifth best player in the league. If we started seeing Luka rev it up on the defensive end like right now, we would be talking about him being the best in the league.

Pierce also went on to compare Doncic with former MVP James Harden. Both are known for their similar styles of play and their offensive skillset. However, despite winning the MVP in 2018, Harden was still not regarded as the league’s best player, mainly because of his lack of defense.

Luka Doncic and the Lakers have a difficult schedule ahead

The Lakers are heading into a crucial phase of their 2025-26 campaign. With the Phoenix Suns breathing down their necks, the Lakers are at risk of falling into the play-in spots. Doncic and his team are headed off on an eight-game road trip, where they will take on the Denver Nuggets, cross-town rivals the Los Angeles Clippers, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the New York Knicks, all of which could cause the Lakers significant problems.

The timing is not ideal, as the Lakers are struggling with form. Since the turn of the year, the club has gone 5-5 in their last 10 games. With Austin Reaves still ruled out, a lot more will be expected from Doncic and a 41-year-old James.

Despite the tough road ahead, the Lakers have performed well on the road this season. They have gone 13-8 in their 21 away games so far. It is their home form that has been a matter of concern as their current record is 12-8 at the Crypto.com Arena. They get their road trip underway against the Nuggets on Wednesday.

Luka Doncic named NBA All-Star game starter

On Monday, the NBA announced the starters for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game. Doncic, along with Stephen Curry, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, and Victor Wembanyama, were chosen as starters from the Western Conference.

The fan vote accounted for 50% of the selection process, along with a survey of NBA players and a media panel, and to no surprise, Doncic took center stage, winning the fan poll by almost 200,000 votes, highlighting his growing popularity. He was the only player in the Western Conference to break the three million votes mark.

Dennis Schroder and Luka Doncic battled all game
Luka Doncic (Image via Basket USA/X)

Meanwhile, his Lakers teammate, James, saw his 21-year All-Star starter streak come to an end. This is Doncic’s sixth All-Star selection, and therefore, becoming the 15th player in NBA history to earn six All-Star selections before the age of 27.

Doncic has already shown that he is a historically great offensive player. However, if the guard can improve on his defense, it would go a long way in elevating the Lakers’ chances in the postseason, especially against young and athletic teams.

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