Luka Doncic has been considered one of the three to five best basketball players in the world for the last few years, and he seems to be poised to become even greater this coming season. He dropped weight and got in much better shape earlier this summer, and some feel he’s about to put together an MVP campaign as a result.
Although he’s unathletic by NBA standards, he’s very difficult to guard because of his deep, deep bag. Every basketball fan knows about his stepback 3-point shot, which is becoming his trademark, but he also has a number of other shots he’s adept at, and he’s one of the best passers the game has seen in recent years.
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In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Doncic named the two toughest defenders he has played against. One of them — Marcus Smart — is now his teammate on the Los Angeles Lakers, thanks in part to his recruiting efforts.
“Basketball will come first,” wrote Jason Gay. “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).”
Smart had his contract bought out by the Washington Wizards in July, which led to him joining the Lakers on a two-year, $11 million contract. He was named the Defensive Player of the Year for the 2021-22 season, and while his game seemingly declined over the last two seasons, he could be in position to bounce back and regain a good amount of his former defensive prowess.
The guard is also a very capable secondary ball-handler and facilitator, which could take some pressure off Doncic throughout the long NBA season.
The Lakers have been weak defensively for the last few years, but a spry Smart could help transform them on that end of the floor, especially if Doncic improves and becomes, at worst, a neutral defender now that he’s much more fit.
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This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Luka Doncic names the two toughest defenders he’s faced in the NBA
