A longtime former league pro has a theory on why five-time All-NBA First Team Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic has yet to win it all.
In fairness, the 6-foot-6 pro has advanced to a pair of Western Conference Finals, and the 2024 NBA Finals, through his first seven NBA seasons. Doncic is also still just 26, two years younger than Michael Jordan was when he won his first of six titles.
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During an appearance on the “Sloane Knows” podcast, former journeyman NBA combo forward Al Harrington broke down his thoughts on Doncic’s struggles to capture his first championship.
“With Luka, I’m a big fan. I think he’s one of the greatest players ever,” Harrington allowed. “My concern is always at the end of the season, he kind of flames out. Just because it’s a long season… And if you’re not taking care of yourself along the way when it gets to the playoffs, it becomes so intense.”
Across a 16-year NBA career for the Indiana Pacers, Atlanta Hawks, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic and Washington Wizards, Harrington posted regular season averages of 13.5 points on .444/.352/.727 shooting splits, 5.6 boards, 1.7 dimes and 0.9 steals a night. He finished among the top 11 in Sixth Man of the Year voting four times.
Doncic’s fitness appears to be the reason Dallas Mavericks team president Nico Harrison controversially decided to trade him to Los Angeles for just one draft pick, aging superstar center/power forward Anthony Davis, and 3-and-D shooting guard Max Christie, instead of paying him a supermax contract extension this summer.
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During his first 28 regular season games for the Lakers (all he was healthy enough to play following the trade), Doncic averaged 28.2 points on .438/.379/.791 shooting splits, 8.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists, and 1.6 steals a night.
While he put up encouraging numbers in L.A.’s five-game first round playoff series loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Doncic did break down at ends of games. His defensive issues made him something of a perimeter sieve against Minnesota.
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