Regardless of main the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals final season, Luka Doncic nonetheless has some distinguished critics.
Talking on his “Showtime Podcast” for CLNS Media, retired Los Angeles Lakers nice Michael Cooper made some harsh feedback in regards to the Mavs star Doncic. Cooper was taking part in a recreation of “Begin, Bench, Lower” along with his co-hosts, and Doncic’s title got here up at one level. Throughout the phase, Cooper didn’t maintain again on the Slovenian celebrity.
“Luka offers you that triple-double nearly about each evening, however he’s too gradual for me,” stated Cooper, per Lakers Nation. “If he wasn’t a scorer, I’d minimize him. I give him credit score for that. However to me, he’s lazy. Doesn’t hustle again on protection.”
For the 68-year-old Cooper, who might be inducted into the Basketball Corridor of Fame later this 12 months as a part of the category of 2024, protection was his calling card. An eight-time All-Defensive choice in addition to the NBA Defensive Participant of the 12 months in 1987, Cooper was answerable for checking everyone in his period from Larry Chook to Isiah Thomas. Thus, it is sensible that Cooper would regard defensive-minded gamers extra extremely.
Doncic will not be a defensive-minded participant, and even his head coach on the Mavs acknowledged that throughout their Finals run this 12 months. However that could be in huge half due to the big load that Doncic is required to hold on offense. (He led the NBA in factors final season with 33.9 per recreation and likewise in utilization charge with 36.0 %.)
The five-time NBA All-Star Doncic, who does have the power to lock in on sure defensive possessions, would be the first to confess that he’s gradual and never (historically) athletic. However when you think about how much Doncic toiled through physically simply to have the ability to play final postseason, he’s in all probability far past the purpose the place he can actually be thought-about “lazy.”
