Paul Pierce spoke about Luka Doncic’s position among the NBA elite, citing defense as a key factor.
The former Celtics star said: “We never said Luka was the best player in the league because of his defense. If we saw how Luka stepped up defensively like he is now, we would be talking about him as the best in the league.”
Doncic has been dominant offensively this season, averaging 33.3 points, 8.6 assists and 7.5 rebounds in 36.3 minutes per game in 33 appearances. His scoring efficiency includes 46.4% from the field and 33.7% from three-point range.
The Lakers are sixth in the Western Conference with a 25-16 record. Austin Reaves leads the team in efficiency along with Doncic, scoring 26.6 points per game with 6.3 assists. LeBron James continues to provide veteran support with 22.6 points and 6.9 assists per game.
Deandre Ayton and Rui Hachimura contribute 14.2 and 12.1 points per game respectively, providing additional support.
Defensively, the Lakers have struggled to match their offensive output. Marcus Smart is averaging 9.8 points and 2.9 steals per game, but the team’s overall defensive rating is below the top Western contenders. Pierce’s comments highlight the gap between Doncic’s offensive dominance and defensive impact.
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