Luka Doncic’s Ball-Dominant Style Sparks Debate After Lakers’ Blowout Loss
Luka Doncic is one of the most gifted offensive players in the game today - a true maestro with the ball in his hands. Whether he's threading a no-look pass through traffic or pulling up from deep with a defender draped on him, Doncic makes the difficult look routine. But as the Lakers stumble through a rough patch, some are starting to question whether his ball-dominant style is helping - or hurting - the team’s overall flow.
Former NBA Coach of the Year Sam Mitchell didn’t hold back during a recent appearance on SiriusXM NBA Radio. His critique? As brilliant as Doncic is with the ball, he’s not doing enough when he doesn’t have it.
“Luka Dončić 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 the ball.”
That’s a strong stance, especially when talking about a player who’s shouldered the offensive load for both the Mavericks and now the Lakers. But Mitchell didn’t stop there. He lumped in LeBron James and Austin Reaves, suggesting that LA’s offensive struggles stem from having too many players who need the ball to be effective.
“The problem with the Lakers is, Austin Reaves and LeBron James are the same way. They gotta have the ball,” Mitchell added.
It’s a fair point when you look at the Lakers’ roster construction. With three high-usage players, the offense can sometimes grind to a halt when the ball sticks. There’s not a lot of off-ball movement, and that makes it easier for defenses to load up and anticipate where the next shot is coming from.
Mitchell drew a sharp contrast with Golden State’s Steph Curry - a player who’s made a career out of moving without the ball. While Curry’s assist numbers don’t always pop off the page, his off-ball activity is relentless. He’s constantly cutting, screening, and relocating, making defenders chase him through a maze of picks.
“The reason we give Steph Curry so much credit is not because he’s a traditional great point guard,” Mitchell said. “He averages about four and a half to five assists per game for his career. Steph Curry does the hard things.”
That’s the distinction that matters. Curry’s movement creates chaos, opening up space not just for himself but for everyone around him. And a big part of that is the presence of Draymond Green - Golden State’s point-forward who takes on much of the playmaking load, freeing Curry to operate as a constant off-ball threat.
Doncic, by contrast, has always been the engine. Whether in Dallas or now in Los Angeles, he’s the primary initiator - the guy who controls tempo, dictates matchups, and sets the table.
That’s true for Slovenia’s national team too. It’s a style that works when he’s on, but when defenses are able to disrupt his rhythm, the offense can stall.
That’s exactly what happened on Christmas Day.
The Lakers were outmatched by the Houston Rockets in a 119-96 blowout. The energy, effort, and execution just weren’t there - and Doncic knew it.
“Everyone has to give better effort, starting with me,” Doncic said after the game.
He led the team with 25 points, five rebounds, and seven assists - solid numbers on paper. But six turnovers told the real story.
The Rockets pressured him into mistakes, and LA couldn’t recover. Houston won the hustle plays, dominated the glass, and looked like the more connected team from start to finish.
Even with a steal and two blocks on the defensive end, Doncic’s miscues loomed large. The Lakers have now dropped three straight, and the questions are starting to mount.
Can this team find a rhythm with so many ball-dominant players? Will someone step up off the ball to create the kind of movement that unlocks the offense?
Sunday’s matchup with the Sacramento Kings offers a chance to reset. But make no mistake - the spotlight is squarely on Doncic and the Lakers to adjust.
Because talent isn’t the issue. It’s about chemistry, effort, and figuring out how to make the pieces fit when the ball isn’t in your hands.