began<\/a> before he aimed his words at Doncic\u2019s poor defensive efforts.<\/p>\n\u201cIt\u2019s a two-way sport. Offense\/defense. I personally feel, and I love Luka offensively, but I feel like over a couple years he disrespected the NBA because I follow him. He go back to Europe and talk about how soft the NBA is. Yeah, he don\u2019t play no defense. I take that personally.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 2002 NBA Champ wasn\u2019t done there either. He challenged the newly fit superstar to actually show he had the mentality to play D this season. \u201cI want to see, if he\u2019s actually in shape, and he has the mentality to play defense. Hell, you can get in shape, but it still take a mentality to play D.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s by no means a poor take by Walker. That said, if he wanted to aim a rant about the lack of defense, don\u2019t just point it at Doncic, but the entire league. To think that it was solely on Luka to save the Lakers\u2019 defensive woes is delusional, especially when the team never had a true 5 once Anthony Davis was traded.<\/p>\n
Besides, Doncic himself has acknowledged<\/a> that defense is an area he needs to improve in. He\u2019s already told the NBA media that he hopes his recruitment of former DPOY Marcus Smart will help in that area, especially since the Don and Smart already seem to be close.<\/p>\nLook, there is no doubt that Luka can improve on the defensive side of the ball. When the core of your team offense is him, Austin Reaves, and a 40-year-old LeBron James, winning on both sides of the court is the only way they can succeed.<\/p>\n
But Luka has been clutch his entire NBA career thus far. He took the Mavericks to the Finals because he delivers in big moments, and has created more Luka Magic plays than Walker could ever imagine in his career. Criticizing someone is one thing. Doing it with a career average of 5 PPG is another. Let this one go big guy.<\/p>\n