Former Lakers big man slams Doncic

According to Nico Martinez, a contributor to US sports media F/W. Doncic has faced quite a lot of criticism over the years, but the latest touches on deeper criticism. Former Lakers big man Samachie Walker made no secret of Doncic's past comments about the NBA's "weakness", accusing the five-time NBA All-Squad defender of disrespect for the league and questioning his willingness to play defensively. “I personally feel — I like him offensively — but I feel like he hasn’t respected the NBA over the last few years because I’m following him,” Walker said. "He returned to Europe and talked about how soft the NBA was, but he didn't do any defense. Do you know what I'm talking about?" In a recent interview with the "JB Coach Show," Walker challenged Doncic to not only maintain his shape, but also to prove that he has the ability to influence the game on both sides of the offense and defense. For Walker, the ultimate test of Luca will measure his respect for his craft and his sense of responsibility as a superstar. First, it starts from the defensive end, and Doncic has been famous for struggling in this past. "I want to see if he is in good shape, he has the mentality of playing defensively, you can stay in shape, but playing defensively still requires a mentality, do you know what I'm talking about? A lot of times, these guys don't want to play defensively because they don't want to look bad because of their brand," said the former Lakers big man.

Walker explained that the decline in defense in today's game was due to the players' ego expansion and excessive protection of their NBA achievements. He hopes Doncic can be unique and treat the game with a selfless and competitive attitude. "Their approach is so immature that it lacks competition and is hit by the immature approach to basketball. And that shouldn't happen. So, yes, I want to challenge this kid," Walker continued. "I want to see if he actually did this on both sides of the field and defense, not just an offensive player."

Averages 28.6 points, 8.2 rebounds and 7.7 assists in his career, we already know what Doncic can do on the offensive end. For now, he is one of the best scorers in the game, and he can score anywhere on the court. However, Luca, on the other hand, is not as powerful as he should be, which is part of the reason why he broke up with the Mavericks. The good news is that it's a transformative summer for Doncic, which prepares him for his best season yet. After months of training, physical training and honing his skills, Luca is slimmer than ever, and after being fired by the Mavericks, he is motivated to dominate at a whole new level. Ultimately, Luca's performance on defense will be entirely up to him. With enough effort and attention to detail, he can become a valuable defender for the Lakers next season, and this difference could lift them into a true championship favorite.

If Doncic really wants to lead the Lakers to the championship, defense cannot be dispensable; it must be a priority. Walker's remarks seem harsh, but reflect the growing expectation of the entire league: It's time for Doncic to prove that he is more than just a scoring machine. This season, he will have a chance to respond. With James still in it, the supporting cast has been revamped, and his own commitment to growth, Luca has all the tools to develop into a complete player. Whether he accepts this challenge is the focus of the basketball community's close attention.