Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic continues to knock on the door of greatness.
Doncic just pieced together perhaps the most dazzling month of his eight-year NBA career. In March, the 27-year-old Lakers star recorded a total of 600 points. Only Michael Jordan and James Harden have registered more in a single month in NBA history.
Doncic’s volcanic scoring has helped push the Lakers to a mighty 15-2 record in their last 17 games. Only the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, whom L.A. is gearing up to play tonight, have lost fewer games since March 1 in the entire Association.
Doncic has also elevated his status in the Kia NBA MVP race as the playoff push tightens. Los Angeles has stood in place at the No. 3 seed for the last few weeks and cannot afford any slip ups in the final few games of the year.
Of course, Doncic’s offense is something his team can heavily rely on.
But now he’s also apparently bringing the intensity on the other side of the ball.
Los Angeles Lakers star earns unexpected nomination
With March wrapped up and the awards for the month having been handed out, we have learned more about a particular honor that is usually designated for the top crop of defenders.
Doncic has an argument to be the league’s most dangerous offensive player. No one would argue the same for Doncic on the other side of the ball.
But if you thought Doncic was poor on defense, think again.
GettyLuka Dončić of the Los Angeles Lakers.
On a recent episode of “NBA Today,” league insider Brian Windhorst dropped a small but significant nugget of information Lakers fans will surely remember for a while.
“Luka got nominated for Defensive Player of the Month,” Windhorst said, almost incredulously. Think about that. In all honesty, that’s better than winning some other award. Luka getting nominated for Defensive Player of the Month? That’s never happened in his career.”
Big takeaway: Doncic’s “poor” defense was greatly overstated
Is he Ben Wallace, Dennis Rodman or Hakeem Olajuwon on that side of the ball?
No.
Is he worthy of consideration as a top 10, 15, 20, 30 or even 40 defender in the league?
No.
But Doncic is clearly far from the “defensive liability” label that has followed him at points in his career.
As the Lakers have morphed into an elite defensive team over the last two months, Doncic has kept up his end of the bargain without letting his offense suffer in any way. It goes to show the Lakers can count on Doncic to play sound defense as he carries a larger offensive load throughout the playoffs.
The truth of the matter is that Doncic is playing an elite guard so often that it makes it borderline impossible to ignore playing defense. The Western Conference is littered with All-Star caliber or better point guards and shooting guards. Resting on defense is not an option.
And even if it is one night, don’t expect head coach JJ Redick to be sitting still over there if he sees a conga line to the basket.
Oh, but don’t expect Doncic to clench his shorts and get down in a stance to guard likely soon-to-be two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander all game tonight.
Lakers’ Luka Doncic Receives Unexpected News Ahead of Thunder Game