At just 26 years of age, Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic is already one of the most accomplished players of his generation. He won the Rookie of the Year award in 2018-19 and hasn't looked back, securing the scoring title in 2023-24 and receiving five All-NBA First Team selections.
If there's been one knock against Doncic, however, it's been that he's struggled to deliver consistent play on the defensive end of the floor.
It's far from hyperbolic to state that Doncic has been one of the worst defensive players among the true superstars in the NBA. He's productive as a rebounder, and has even come up with his fair share of steals, but consistency hasn't exactly been an attribute he can claim to possess.
Unfortunately, when a player develops a reputation for lackluster defense, it's almost impossible to convince the general public that it's no longer true.
Critics continue to label Doncic as one of the worst defensive players in the Association. The reality they're failing to see, however, is that he's actually taken a considerable step forward on that end of the floor—so much so that his impact could be considered positive.
Doncic may not be a Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan type of superstar, dropping 30 and locking down an opponent's best scorer in key moments, but he's quietly become a respectable defender.
Luka Doncic has made genuine progress as a defender
Thus far in 2024-25, Doncic is averaging a career-best 1.9 steals per game. That alone doesn't determine anything, but an increase of 0.5 steals per contest over his previous high is nothing to scoff at as far as an increase in effort and intensity is concerned.
Doncic is also averaging a team-high 2.9 deflections per game since joining the Lakers after previously leading the Dallas Mavericks in that same statistic before he was traded.
That increase in activity is an immediate reason to rethink the reputation that Doncic has earned. Not only is he creating turnovers at a career-best level, but he's also been active in generating deflections with both Dallas and Los Angeles in 2024-25.
Beyond the deflections, Doncic has become a more than respectable individual defender who has done a commendable job of limiting his opponents' efficiency.
Opponents are shooting 1.8 percent worse from the field when Doncic is the primary defender in 2024-25. That includes decreases of 0.8 percent on two-point field goals and 2.4 percent on three-point attempts.
Rounding the numbers into form, the Lakers are allowing 0.8 fewer points per 100 possessions with Doncic on the court, and the Mavericks gave up 3.3 less with him present.
Doncic is by no means an elite defender at this stage, but his impact has been discernibly positive at multiple stops this season. He's more engaged when defending away from the ball and has limited opponents' efficiency when directly on it.
Perhaps the narrative will never die due to how his first six seasons played out, but Doncic has far exceeded what's expected of him on defense in 2024-25.
