FoFormer Los Angeles Lakers forward Samaki Walker questioned Luka Doncic’s commitment to defense and called on the All-NBA guard to back up his recent offseason changes with a two-way mentality.
Appearing on The Coach JB Show with Big Smitty, Walker expressed admiration for Doncic’s offensive skill but took issue with his approach to defense — and his comments about the league.
“Look, man, the guy is a basketball savant,” Walker said, via Lakers Daily. “But I feel like over the couple, few years, he disrespected the NBA because I follow him. He go back to Europe and talking about how soft the NBA is, yet he don’t play no defense.”
Walker, who played in the league for a decade and won a title with the Lakers in 2002, said that real competitiveness demands effort on both ends of the floor. He challenged Doncic directly, questioning whether the 26-year-old was mentally ready to prioritize defense.
“Hell, you can get in shape, but it still take a mentality to play D,” Walker said. “Is he willing to accept that?”
Walker also critiqued what he sees as a larger trend among modern stars, claiming that fear of public embarrassment leads many to avoid defensive matchups. He said branding concerns often take priority over winning.
“For some reason, we in this era where you get crossed over… These guys actually believe that,” Walker said. “They so immature in their approach that competition is lacking.”
The former big man emphasized that he still believes Doncic can make the adjustment — especially now that the Lakers star is in the best shape of his career.
Doncic, who signed a long-term extension with Los Angeles earlier this summer, told reporters at the Lakers’ press conference that a full offseason focused on conditioning gave him a “fresh start.”
“For the first month, I didn’t play basketball at all,” Doncic said. “More focused in other things — weightlifting, balancing, those stuff.”
The Slovenian guard pointed to defense as an area of expected growth, especially with new teammates like Marcus Smart helping him adapt. “You obviously got Marcus, so he’s going to teach me some things,” Doncic said.
Walker acknowledged that Doncic’s improved physical condition is a step in the right direction. But he made it clear that getting in shape is only part of the equation.
“I wanna see if he really about that on both ends of the floor,” Walker said. “As a competitor — a true competitor — I’m interested in seeing if this kid can make the mental adjustment.”
Doncic will enter the 2025-26 season under heavy expectations, not only as the new face of the Lakers but also as a player now being publicly challenged to deliver more on defense.
