Frye Takes Aim at Doncic: “One of the Worst Defenders in the NBA”

Luka Doncic is the face of the Los Angeles Lakers. In his first full season with the franchise, the Slovenian star has immediately embraced the role of offensive leader.

The issue for the Lakers – and for their star – lies on the defensive end, a well-known topic around the NBA. Doncic’s struggles in his own half of the floor have long been noted, to the point where the former Mavericks guard is widely regarded as one of the league’s weakest defenders.

Despite these shortcomings, Doncic remains among the leading candidates for Regular Season MVP, an award he has yet to win. According to Channing Frye, however, meaningful defensive improvement is essential if he truly wants to be in the conversation.

You can’t be in the top two of the MVP race if you’re one of the five worst defenders in the league, and statistically, Doncic is. You can’t say anything about him offensively – he’s spectacular, and people will talk about his offensive highlights for the rest of his career – but he has to put more energy into the defensive end. Until he improves there, I don’t consider him a legitimate MVP candidate.

Channing Frye

Statistics tracked by ESPN back up Frye’s argument. Doncic currently allows opponents to convert 41% of their drives, and he ranks 109th in field-goal percentage allowed. These figures also reflect the Lakers’ collective defensive struggles: Los Angeles sits 25th in defensive rating, surrendering an average of 116.2 points per game.

If Doncic and the Lakers fail to raise their defensive level, any dreams of glory risk slipping away. Something will have to change – otherwise, both individual accolades and team success in Los Angeles may remain nothing more than a mirage.