The Los Angeles Lakers are hitting a rough patch, and the frustration is starting to show-not just on the court, but in the locker room and press conferences too. After a blowout loss to the Houston Rockets on Christmas Day, head coach JJ Redick didn’t mince words. His postgame comments sent a clear message to the team: things need to change, and fast.
Luka Doncic, the face of this Lakers squad, echoed that sentiment. “I don’t know what has to change, but definitely something needs to change… We got to figure it out; that’s the thing we have [to do].
Everybody got to talk about it. I know JJ said it’s going to be uncomfortable.
As [it] should be,” he told reporters. That’s the kind of honesty you expect from a leader, but it also underscores just how unsettled things are in L.A. right now.
The Lakers have dropped six of their last ten games. Once sitting comfortably at the No. 2 seed, they’ve now slipped to fourth in the Western Conference standings. Momentum has stalled, and with a tough matchup against the Sacramento Kings looming on Tuesday, there’s no time to dwell.
But the conversation around Doncic isn’t just about team performance-it’s also turning toward his individual style of play. Former NBA head coach Sam Mitchell didn’t hold back when discussing Doncic’s impact, particularly when he’s not holding the ball.
“Luka Doncic cannot play basketball without the ball,” Mitchell said. “He doesn’t cut.
He doesn’t move. He doesn’t set screens.
He’s great with the ball, but he does nothing to make his teammates better when he doesn’t have it.”
That’s a bold critique, especially when you’re talking about one of the league’s most gifted offensive players. There’s no denying Doncic’s brilliance with the ball in his hands-his vision, scoring ability, and control of the game are elite. But Mitchell’s point raises an important question: how does Doncic impact the game when he’s not the focal point of the possession?
Mitchell contrasted Doncic’s approach with that of Stephen Curry, who’s made a career out of being a constant off-ball threat. “The reason we give Steph Curry so much credit is not because he’s a traditional great point guard,” Mitchell explained.
“He averages about four and a half to five assists per game for his career. Steph Curry does the hard things.
He’s always cutting and moving without the ball, which-when you’re a great player and you make a hard cut-somebody’s going to follow you.”
It’s a fair comparison. Curry’s movement off the ball bends defenses and creates opportunities for his teammates, even when he’s not touching the rock. That kind of off-ball gravity is rare-and it’s something Doncic, for all his talent, hasn’t consistently shown.
Add to that the lingering concerns about Doncic’s defense, and the picture becomes more complicated. He’s still a top-tier offensive engine, but in a league where versatility and adaptability are increasingly prized, the question is whether his current style can carry a team deep into the postseason.
For the Lakers, the clock is ticking. They’ve got a talented roster, a head coach trying to instill accountability, and a superstar who knows something needs to change.
But knowing and doing are two different things. Tuesday’s game against the Kings could be a turning point-or another step in the wrong direction.
Either way, the spotlight’s not going anywhere.