Luka Doncic has never stopped being the topic of every second basketball conversation. Recently, Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick spilled the beans on how he felt his team hadn’t been organized offensively since LeBron James’ return. Redick has also been trying to roll out a new rotation system in LA with his main stars. In short, it’s quite chaotic for the 20-10 team. However, many in the fanbase believe that Doncic is more at fault than James for the Lakers’ troubles.

Phoenix Suns legend Eddie A Johnson recently commented, “Offense is not fluid because Luka wants the ball.”

Simply put, he implied that the 26-year-old player is selfish on the floor. But Dan Woike of The Athletic sat down to clear the air around Doncic.

“Luka is an interesting player because he has the ball a ton, but I wouldn’t consider him to be a selfish basketball player,” Woike said on SiriusXM NBA Radio. “What he’s trying to create in a lot of these situations is that he wants to pass. He wants to draw multiple defenders, and he wants to zip the ball around the court.”

But why does Doncic want this?

The math is simple to understand. Doncic controls games by dominating the first 10 minutes with aggressive scoring. That early burst forces defenses to double-team him. Once that happens, the Lakers adapt instantly.

“You have to throw exotic defensive coverages at him, and then he gets to just slice you up,” Woike concluded. “That’s how Luka wants to play.”

Averaging 33.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 8.6 assists, and 46.2 field shooting, Doncic is dominating the court for the Lakers. Earlier this year, when he lost over 30 pounds and flipped the “Fat Luka” narrative, fans chanted, “MVP Luka” on social media. The 26-year-old sits in the top 3 in MVP conversations this season. And now with Nikola Jokic potentially set to miss a month of play, the Slovenian only has to clear Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

But voices like Johnson’s could add a new layer to Doncic’s time in the league. So, what did the NBA legend say about LA’s favorite guard?

Is Luka Doncic a real problem for the Lakers?

Through 30 contests, the Los Angeles Lakers are the fourth seed in the West, despite LeBron James missing 16 games, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves missing seven apiece, and Deandre Ayton sidelined for four. Still, Purple and Gold reality bites and prestige will always invite pressure and judgment. That heat targeted James as an alleged obstacle, supposedly uneasy as a third option. Johnson flipped the lens instead.

“Luka does not get back (arguing with officials) it’s Bron’s fault,” Johnson wrote on X. “Reaves can’t guard guards it’s Bron’s fault. Offense not fluid because Luka needs the ball it’s Bron’s fault. Laker fans show up late it’s Bron’s fault. About to blow up in LA if this continues. 👀 🍿”

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At 41, James remains efficient, posting 20.6 points, 6.7 assists, and 4.9 rebounds on 50+ percent shooting. Still, blame circles back to him as a third option, though Doncic and Reaves are not criticized as much.

Metrics show lineups featuring James lag defensively with a rating of 119.9, the fourth-worst mark on the team, and a net rating of -4.3. Defensively, Doncic and Reaves aren’t doing any better in that sector either, but the team is still winning thanks to a high offensive production. Maybe that’s their focus in the short term, as long as results are coming. But Redick has been critical of his team’s consistency.

“Guys will say they want to win,” the Lakers coach said. “The care factor, to me is like, ‘Do I care enough to actually do what I’m supposed to do and just do it consistently.’ And that’s really what the championship habits are. And that’s what we don’t have right now.”