Bill Simmons recently raised questions about Luka Doncic’s defense that Lakers fans probably will not love.
Bill Simmons questions Luka Doncic’s defense
On an episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast, he asked, “If you gave him [Nico Harrison] truth serum right now, does he feel like he’s still in it with this Luka [Doncic] trade with the way Luka’s looked on defense lately? Do you think after three drinks over the holidays with his friends, he’s like you’ll see with Luka, he’s never going to win a title there?”
Rob Mahoney, a guest of the show, responded, saying, “First of all, I don’t think it takes the three drinks…look, you wouldn’t have done it in the first place if you didn’t believe it.” Even so, the underlying critique is clear: Doncic’s defense has been underwhelming, to say the least.
Offensively, Doncic is still extremely elite. There is absolutely no denying that. This season, he has been averaging 33.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 8.7 assists in 24 games while shooting just north of 46 percent from the field.
However, stretches of poor defensive effort, including trailing back slowly, losing focus on rotations, or arguing with officials, have been noticeable, even drawing attention from his head coach, JJ Redick.
Defense has long been a concern
Defense has long been a concern. Last season, former Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison traded Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis largely because of Doncic's defensive shortcomings.
Harrison’s mantra, “Defense wins championships,” continues to resonate, and there have been moments this season suggesting he was not wrong.
For the Lakers, the takeaway so far this season is pretty clear. Offense alone will not carry them to a title. They need defensive help around their stars.
Potential defensive options for the Los Angeles Lakers
Luckily for them, some options exist. Miami Heat’s Andrew Wiggins is one of them, but he comes with a high asking price. Sacramento Kings’ Keon Ellis is another option, but it would cost a first-round pick, something the Lakers probably will not want to give up. The more realistic option is Toronto Raptors’ Ochai Agbaji, but he would not be a complete solution.
Luka Doncic remains a superstar offensively, but Simmons’ subtle jab is a reminder: to win at the highest level, even elite scorers need a defensive complement. For Los Angeles, addressing that gap could make or break their championship hopes.