Gilbert Arenas indirectly sides with Nico Harrison’s assessment of Luka Doncic’s game.
For six years, Luka Doncic gave his heart and soul to the Dallas Mavericks. Doncic played through a plethora of injuries to ensure the Mavs remained competitive.
The Mavericks, on the other hand, didn’t think twice before trading him to the Los Angeles Lakers, shocking the entire NBA community.
Since then, the Mavericks have only made things worse with general manager Nico Harrison and the top brass throwing shade at their former cornerstone superstar. One of the biggest reasons that Harrison and Co. presented to justify their decision was downplaying Doncic’s defensive ability.
Photo by David Berding/Getty ImagesGilbert Arenas says Luka Doncic can’t be a lockdown defender
When it comes to scoring, there are hardly any players better than Doncic on that end of the floor. However, over the years, the critics have always called Luka out on the defensive end.
With the LA Lakers getting eliminated in the first round, Doncic has a chance to prove his doubters wrong with a long offseason training schedule.
Speaking of which, former NBA star Gilbert Arenas recently gave a verdict on what fans should expect from the 5x NBA All-Star.
“I think he’s gonna get in better shape. Defense? I don’t know anything about that. Either you play defense or you don’t. I don’t see him just trying to be some lockdown defender,” Arenas announced.
While Arenas does expect Doncic to get into better shape, he still doesn’t see the Lakers star improving his defense.
What’s next for Luka Doncic
The 2025-26 NBA season will be crucial in deciding which team between the Mavericks and the Lakers truly won the Doncic trade.
On one hand, the Lakers are expected to make some crucial decisions in the offseason to bolster the supporting cast.
While on the other hand, the Mavericks landing the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft has sent a wave of hope among Dallas fans.
It will be interesting to see if Doncic will play with a chip on his shoulder and prove that Harrison and Co. were wrong to trade him or if they will be proven correct about their decision.