Celtics Icon Paul Pierce Describes What’s Holding Luka Doncic Back
Luka Doncic is having another stat-stuffing season in the NBA, his first full campaign with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Provided the Lakers hover near the top of the Western Conference standings between now and the end of the year, Luka should see himself in some MVP conversations, although guys like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jaylen Brown will have plenty to say about that.
Is Luka a legit MVP candidate, given how little effort he puts into the defensive end?
Celtics legend Paul Pierce recently went into detail about what’s holding back Luka Doncic from becoming the best player in the league, and Pierce focused on Luka’s lackluster D.
According to Pierce, Luka won’t be able to rise above the status of the fourth or fifth best player in the league if he keeps playing defense like he does.
Meanwhile, Doncic is doing everything he can to put up numbers that make voters ignore his defense (remember when Steve Nash won back-to-back MVPs?).
Luka is currently averaging 33.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 8.6 assists through 33 games, shooting 46.4 percent from the field.
Recent showings for Luka include a 39-point effort against the Charlotte Hornets on January 15 despite a loss, and 25 points with seven assists in a win over the Toronto Raptors on January 19.
Doncic has stayed relatively healthy this year and helped propel the Lakers to a 25-16 record.
Over his eight-year career, Doncic has amassed 483 games thus far, averaging 28.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 8.3 assists. Drafted third overall in 2018 by Atlanta and traded to Dallas on draft night for Trae Young, he earned Rookie of the Year honors in 2019, five All-Star nods from 2020-24, and led the league in scoring in 2023-24 with 33.9 points per game.