A big part of what has always made Luka Doncic so unbelievably special is his ability to put pressure on defenses with his bully ball and basketball IQ. The 2024-25 NBA season was missing that crucial element of the equation for the Los Angeles Lakers superstar.
This was a key focus for Jovan Buha on a recent episode of his podcast that discussed how each Lakers player can realistically improve this season. The host of Buha's Block could not help but be taken aback by the struggles.
Buha said, "Luka has typically been in that 80th to 90th percentile in terms of two-point shooters. ... He regressed at the rim with the second lowest field goal percentage at the rim of his career. ... He also regressed in the short midrange, as well as the long midrange."
The Lakers offense will need Doncic to bounce back in 2025-26 to hit the heights they are dreaming of. The numbers from last season do not paint a pretty picture. That version of the superstar point guard cannot be the one wearing purple and gold in the upcoming campaign.
Luka Doncic’s struggles inside the arc must fuel his next-level game
When looking up the statistics for Doncic on Basketball Reference, the shooting numbers from last season back up what Buha was discussing on his show. The Lakers point guard was ineffective from inside the arc, at least by his standards.
For starters, Doncic has shot 55.4 percent from 2-point through his career. That number actually climbs up to 55.7 without including his 2024-25 campaign.
Last season, Doncic only shot 52.2 percent between his time with the Lakers and Dallas Mavericks. That number was only lower in his rookie season, when the former Mavericks guard shot 50.3 percent.
If highlighting just his time with the Lakers, Doncic shot 49.3 percent in the 28 regular season games with Los Angeles. That would easily be the worst mark of his career.
When shifting the focus to his sample size with the Lakers, Doncic had noticeable struggles. His percentage at the rim, from 0 to 3 feet, was 72.1 percent. 2018-19 and 2020-21 were the only seasons in which that number is worse.
10 to 16 feet from the basket was also a notable area where Doncic struggled. His 40.0 percent shot with the Lakers is only topped by 2018-19 (37.7) and 2019-20 (37.0) for the worst success rate of his seven seasons in the NBA.
Long twos, which range from 16 feet to the 3-point line were at their absolute worst with the Lakers. Doncic only connected on 27.0 percent, posting 30.9 percent on the whole of 2024-25. The Slovenian superstar has a cumulative average of 40.6 percent in every other season of his NBA days.
The leaner Luka that enters the upcoming campaign will offer a needed opportunity to return to the more productive seasons of his career. The extra lift and conditioning Doncic should have after the dedication to his body during the offseason is expected go a long way.