The Los Angeles Lakers may have faced an early elimination in the 2025 NBA Playoffs, but the fanbase is hopeful for a stunning comeback next season.
After all, it will be the first full season of LeBron James and Luka Doncic’s duo. While the excitement is there, many have a huge concern about Doncic.
It’s none other than Doncic potentially not being in great shape heading into the new season. But Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce believes fans are focused on the wrong Doncic problem.Luka Doncic’s weight is not the issue, claims Paul Pierce
After spending more than six years with the Dallas Mavericks, one thing is clear – Doncic is a generational superstar.
Keeping that in mind, Pierce pointed out that it doesn’t matter if Doncic’s weight is not optimal, the real trouble lies elsewhere.
“I don’t know, the guy averages 30-8-8, and we’re talking about his weight. Let’s talk about his mentality on defense. I feel like that’s the issue,” Pierce said, via SPEAK.
He added: “Defense is a mentality, rebounds and the effort stuff, that’s a mentality.”
Even with the Lakers, Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game in just 28 appearances.
Considering it was a mid-season trade, the Lakers had an 18-10 record in those matchups, but that’s bound to improve in the upcoming campaign.
Pierce urges Doncic to improve his defense
Coming back to Pierce’s comments, the 2008 NBA champion further clarified why defense is a more concerning problem with Doncic.
“It has nothing to do with his weight, as far as his production, he’s one of the most productive players all-first team NBA every single year, so don’t make this a weight thing and try and throw us off the subject.
“He needs to learn how to play some damn defense and not get isolated and picked on, that’s the issue with him,” the Celtics legend concluded.
Even former NBA star Gilbert Arenas said something similar when discussing Doncic’s next season. The ball is now in Luka’s court to prove his critics wrong.
