Luka Doncic played a key role in leading the Dallas Mavericks to the 2024 NBA Finals. However, not everyone viewed the Slovenian's performances positively. One recent critique came from Michael Cooper, the former L.A. Lakers legend.
During one episode , the current podcast host did a segment called ‘Start, Bench, Cut,’ where he evaluated three premier NBA point guards. Coop placed Damian Lillard and Kyrie Irving in the first and last spots, respectively. Doncic “only” landed on the bench—a decision the former NBA champ was quite candid about.
“Luka gives you a triple-double almost every night, but he's too slow for me. If he wasn't a scorer, I would cut him. But he can score, so you have to give him credit. To me, he is lazy and doesn't hustle back on defense,” he remarked on his.
Clash of styles
It surely seems like the former Laker isn't the biggest fan of the Mavericks' superstar. That said, comparing Doncic's play style with Cooper's past approach on the court might help explain this sentiment.
Coop himself was a fierce defender, regarded as one of the best in league history, and was all about hard work and relentless hustle. The former 6'7" guard-forward often took on the opponents' top offensive threats without complaint.
Shifting to the NBA's current top offensive players, ‘Luka Magic’ is certainly among them. The 5-time All-Star scored the most total points in the 2023-24 regular season and had an unbelievable 73-point explosion against the Hawks earlier this year. During the 2024 playoffs, the former Real Madrid player averaged an impressive 28.9 points and 8.1 assists, showcasing his offensive prowess.
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A call for change in Luka's approach
However, Coop, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame this April, understands that basketball requires more than just a strong offense. Success demands excellence on both ends of the court, and currently, Mike believes the Slovenian is falling short both in the defensive area and with his effort.
Interestingly, his comments align with those of fellow retired NBA player Kendrick Perkins. A few months ago, ‘Perk’ spoke about Luka's performances against the Celtics.
“Luka Doncic led the league in scoring this year, what he has been doing offensively in this postseason. (But) what has been spoken out badly - is the other side of basketball, not Mike believes Doncic is falling short both in the defensive area and with his effort.defending, not putting forward the effort… you have to get it done on both ends,” he emphasized .
Several other media personalities have questioned the Slovenian playmaker's questionable approach on the court. As a leader and the face of his team, the 2019 ROY must set a strong example. Instead of arguing with referees, as so often seen last year, he should let go of perceived mistakes and quickly get back on defense. Improving defensively as a whole is also crucial for Doncic, as teams have often targeted him for his perceived weaknesses. This improvement starts with showing (more) hustle.
However, at just 25 years old and arguably not even in his prime yet, ‘Luka Magic’ has plenty of time to enhance this aspect of his game, which will certainly help him become a winning player.
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