LA Lakers superstar Luka Doncic was a picture of frustration in the first half against the OKC Thunder on Thursday. During one play early in the first quarter, Doncic faked a 3-pointer, prompting Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to jump. The Slovenian tried baiting SGA into a foul, but the referee called it fair play, forcing Doncic to complain.
While Doncic argued with the referee, SGA raced to the other end to score a fastbreak against Austin Reaves. Former coach Stan Van Gundy remarked:
“When (Doncic) thinks he doesn’t get a call, he just stops and gives up a fastbreak. … You’re hurting your teammates.”
Over the years, two of the biggest criticisms against Luka Doncic is his constant complaining and poor effort on defense. That one play Van Gundy talked about was a microcosm of why fans and analysts often question Doncic’s commitment to winning basketball.
The OKC Thunder was bruising and relentless, but Doncic does the same thing even when facing a struggling team. Late last month, against the Brooklyn Nets, a clip of the MVP contender repeatedly failing to get back on defense after complaining for non-calls went viral.
Interestingly, the Lakers went 15-for-18 from the free-throw line in the first half while the Thunder made 9 of 10 shots from that distance. Doncic and LeBron James combined to make 11 of 14 free-throw attempts.
Meanwhile, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams went 6-for-6 in free throw shots combined.
Most of the time, Luka Doncic’s offensive brilliance overshadows his defensive liabilities. Against the Thunder, he couldn’t get away with it.
Luka Doncic and LeBron James Struggled in First Half Against Bruising Thunder Defense
The OKC Thunder ranked second in the NBA in forced turnovers with 16.8 per game heading into the showdown against the LA Lakers. The team with the best defensive rating in the league often overwhelms opponents with its pressure.
That pressure was too much for Luka Doncic, LeBron James and the Lakers in the first half, the biggest reason they trailed 82-51 at the break. LA committed 11 turnovers in 24 minutes. Doncic, James and Austin Reaves combined for 10 of those errors.
Doncic scored 10 points but needed nine shots and six free-throw attempts to get his tally. Six of James’ eight points came from the free-throw line. The Thunder outscored the Lakers by a staggering 54 points combined with Doncic and James on the floor in the first half.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball and college baseball.
