Luka Doncic’s offensive brilliance has never been in question, but his defense continues to draw sharp criticism—this time from Paul Pierce.
Speaking on FS1’s Speak, the former Celtics forward shifted the conversation surrounding Doncic’s weight loss to what he considers the real issue: his effort on defense.
“The guy averages 30, eight and eight, and y’all talking about his weight,” Pierce said, via Lakers Daily. “Let’s talk about his mentality on defense ’cause I figure that’s the issue.”
Doncic, who averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists in 28 games with the Los Angeles Lakers this season, also tallied 1.6 steals per game.
Still, critics have pointed to his difficulty containing scorers in the playoffs, especially during the Lakers’ first-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Jaden McDaniels posted a 68.8 effective field goal percentage when guarded by Doncic, one of the most efficient matchups in the opening round.
Pierce emphasized that defense comes down to attitude and effort, not body type.
“Defense is a mentality,” Pierce continued. “Rebounding and the effort stuff is hustle mentality. It has nothing to do with his weight.”
The 26-year-old Slovenian star joined the Lakers in a blockbuster February trade after a strained calf sidelined him for over a month.
He returned to form quickly, recording multiple triple-doubles and scoring a season-high 45 points in a win against his former team, the Dallas Mavericks.
In the 2025 playoffs, Doncic averaged 30.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 5.8 assists across five games, including a 37-point performance in his Lakers postseason debut.
However, Los Angeles exited in the first round, falling to Minnesota in five games, reigniting long-standing concerns about Doncic’s defensive limitations.
Pierce didn’t question Doncic’s production but maintained that his defensive shortcomings could become a liability.
“He need to learn how to play some damn defense and not get isolated and picked on,” Pierce said. “That’s the issue with him, not his weight.”
With the Lakers heading into a pivotal offseason, focus will likely remain on how the team can better support Doncic—or how he can adjust his approach on both ends of the court.
