Luka Dončić is one of the best offensive players in the NBA.
From his sheer ability to score in bunches to his Magic Johnson-esque passes, if there’s one thing you never question about Luka, it’s how dominant he is in getting himself and his teammates to score.
Still, everyone has players who give them problems.
Kobe Bryant had his run-ins with the “Kobe-stopper” Ruben Paterson, and LeBron James had memorable battles with Dillion Brooks to go with past battles against players like Paul Pierce.
In an
article written by Jason Gay in The Wall Street Journal, Luka revealed the players who defend him best as Marcus Smart and Herb Jones.
Basketball will come first. Doncic is eager to get to training camp. This summer he helped recruit the former Celtics defensive pest Marcus Smart, one of two players Doncic cites as the biggest headaches he’s faced (the other: New Orleans’s Herb Jones).
If you can’t beat them, recruit them, is a strategy I can get behind. Not only does bringing Smart in give the Lakers an elite perimeter defender, but he’s clearly someone Luka respects. He understands the value a player like Smart brings.
This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about Luka’s recruitment of Smart. Dončić’s recruiting pitch to Smart led him to choose the Lakers over the Suns, and he said it “means a lot” that Luka recruited him.
This sounds awfully familiar to the Kobe Bryant, Ron Artest relationship.
They had their battles in the playoffs and then Artest joined the Lakers. Now, a couple of years removed from Smart and Dončić playing against each other, they too will be joining forces in Los Angeles.
Regarding Jones, he’s a player NBA nerds constantly fawn over for being a defensive ex-factor. So, it’s no surprise Luka knows ball and understands how good he is.
Jones is locked up long-term with the Pelicans, so unless New Orleans wants to give up on a very good player on a decent contract, don’t expect Luka’s recruiting skills to bring him to Los Angeles anytime soon.
In the meantime, Luka has one of the toughest defenders he’s ever faced playing alongside him now in Smart and appears ready for training camp to start.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
