By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Luka Doncic smiled when reporters asked about his defense following a home victory over the Toronto Raptors at crypto.com Arena on Sunday.
Both head coach JJ Redick and center Walker Kessler had just credited his defensive work, a notable shift for a player long criticized for his effort on that end of the floor.
“Why? I don’t know,” the Slovenian superstar mentioned regarding his reputation. “Obviously, I’m not the best defender in the NBA. But I think this year I’ve really took a step forward.”
The 27-year-old playmaker shrugged off outside skepticism. “People going to talk what they want to talk. Media is going to talk what they want to talk. But I know, and my team knows, that I think I’m better this year and that helps the whole team, I think,” he added.
The noise is just background distraction. “People going to talk bad no matter what,” he said, choosing to focus on a 2026–27 journey where he feels he made a huge leap on both ends.
Finding his stride took some time. Doncic sat out for more than half a year before this season began, making his current rhythm even more critical to the team.
“As long as we win the game, I’m fine. I didn’t play for six, seven months,” he explained. “I’m just trying to find that rhythm, and it’s getting better.”
That long layoff was particularly tough after how the previous stretch ended. “It was definitely a lot of frustration,” the six-time All-Star admitted, remembering how fun the 2025–26 run was before it cut short.
Now, the 5–2 Lakers sit fourth in the Western Conference. Doncic is pacing them with 37.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game. Redick’s group faces a quick turnaround, wrapping up a back-to-back at home against the Miami Heat and Giannis Antetokounmpo on Monday.
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