Former NBA star says Luka Doncic's fitness isn't his main problem
Former NBA star says Luka Doncic's fitness isn't his main problem
When people talk about Luka Doncic, the topic that inevitably comes up is his fitness and conditioning — or lack thereof. He has been criticized by many for being overweight and out of shape, although there are definite signs lately that he may be starting to take better care of his body.
Another criticism of Doncic that is somewhat related is his shortcomings on the defensive end. He has trouble staying in front of his man when his man has the basketball, and it has led to opposing teams targeting him on defense.
There is a school of thought that if Doncic gets in much better shape, he can become a much better defender, and by extension, the Los Angeles Lakers would become a better defensive team. But former NBA star Paul Pierce said on Fox Sports 1's "Speak" that he doesn't think it's as simple as that.
"Defense is a mentality," Pierce said. "Rebounds and the effort stuff is hustle mentality. It has nothing to do with his weight because as far as his production, he's one of the most productive players. ... So just don't make this a weight thing and try to throw us off the subject.
"He needs to learn how to play some damn defense and not get isolated and picked on."
There is some truth to what Pierce said. However, one cannot be a great defensive player if one isn't in shape.
Superstars such as Doncic do have to conserve some energy on the defensive end so that they can help their teams the best way they can — on the offensive end. But as "Speak" co-host Keyshawn Johnson pointed out, Doncic can become a serviceable defender as long as he simply puts in the effort.
The Slovenian, however, has been a good team defender who can come up with the basketball in certain situations. He averaged a career-high 1.8 steals a game this season, which shows at least a trace of desire to contribute in a positive manner on that end of the floor.
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