Overview
- After the Pelicans game, Marcus Smart highlighted Dončić’s willingness to take a charge and called his effort a tone-setter for teammates.
- On his Game Over podcast, Rich Paul argued that even elite defense from Dončić would not change Los Angeles’ ceiling without personnel upgrades.
- Michelle Beadle publicly challenged Dončić’s defensive buy-in following a win over the Grizzlies, asking why he does not simply defend better.
- Coverage cites Cleaning the Glass data showing opponents score about 0.3 more points per possession with Dončić on the floor and a -2.4% Turnover% impact.
- The Lakers pair a top-tier offense with a bottom-seven defensive rating, leaving their net rating roughly at zero and fueling scrutiny of their viability.