Luka Dončić responded with a simple two-word phrase, "Oh, finally," and a smile after a reporter asked him about his improved defense following the Dallas Mavericks' 113-101 victory over the Toronto Raptors. While Dončić has consistently been lauded for his offensive prowess, his defensive efforts have often drawn criticism. However, this season, the guard has shown a noticeable improvement on that end of the court.
In the win against the Raptors, Dončić recorded 39 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, five steals, and three drawn charges. According to ESPN, he is the first player to achieve five steals and three drawn charges in the same game since player tracking began in the 2013-2014 season.
Mavericks coach JJ Redick acknowledged Dončić's defensive contributions, stating, "He’s been awesome on defense." Walker Kessler added, "Five steals and three charges. Incredible. You know, incredible. Luka doesn’t get enough credit for his defense."
Dončić himself admitted he has taken a step forward defensively this year. "Obviously, I’m not the best defender in the NBA, but I think this year I really took a step forward," he said. "Obviously people are going to talk what they want to talk [about] me. But I know, and my team knows, that I think I’m better this year. And that helps the whole team, I think."
Historically, defense has been considered Dončić's weak point. When he was traded to the Lakers in February 2025, critics frequently pointed to his performance on the defensive end. However, Dončić has demonstrated that he can be effective when he prioritizes it.
In a previous game against the Utah Jazz on Oct. 25, Dončić took a crucial charge with less than four minutes remaining and the score tied, sparking a 16-7 run that led to a 132-123 victory for the Lakers. Redick views drawing charges as a form of leadership, stating, "I think taking a charge in general is just a form of leadership, right? You’re putting your body on the line for the team."
Dončić noted his increased willingness to draw charges, mentioning, “Before last season, I don’t think I had maybe five charges in seven years, or six years. So, that gets everybody fired up. …I just wanted to get better at that and three charges is not bad for one game.”
His coach described Dončić's offensive impact poetically: “It feels like a supernova but it also feels normal. We live on a spaceship and we’re going at the speed of light at all times when he’s on the court. When he has it going, you know, …it’s like pick your poison because he can just make any shot.”
With his improved defensive play, Dončić is not only silencing critics but also potentially enhancing the Lakers' championship aspirations. Redick believes that if Dončić can be consistently good on defense, it elevates the team's potential, positioning him as a strong MVP candidate alongside two-way stars like Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.