Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
By Brandon Contes on

After previously believing Luka Dončić was destined to get the Los Angeles Lakers back to a championship level, NBA media is no longer buying what they were selling just a year ago.

When the Lakers stunned the NBA by acquiring Dončić for Anthony Davis at the trade deadline last season, it was viewed as a historic trade and a historic fleecing of the Dallas Mavericks. A 25-year-old superstar with the talent and potential to break into the NBA’s Mount Rushmore, Dončić was already being treated like the next great player to grab the baton in Lakers history. And remember everyone fawning over Dončić recommitting himself to losing weight and getting fit last summer? Fast forward a year, Dončić is averaging 32 points, eight rebounds and eight assists per game, the Lakers are more than 10 games over .500, but the media seems ready to concede they overvalued him.

In the wake of LeBron’s close friend Chris Paul saying he wouldn’t hesitate to pick Shai Gilgeous-Alexander over Dončić, it seemingly opened the door for media members to jump off Luka’s bandwagon.

Chris Broussard weighed in on Paul’s take this week, echoing the sentiment by claiming “I would definitely take Shai or Luka just to build a team. I would rather have [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander] on my team.” SGA won the MVP last season, it’s not like they’re taking Dillon Brooks over Luka, but this isn’t a take many NBA commentators would have given last February. And Broussard took his pivot on Luka a step further, claiming he may never win a title. It seems worth noting Dončić is 26, LeBron James was 27 when he won his first championship, Michael Jordan was 28.


Colin Cowherd was critical of Dončić this week while conveniently excusing LeBron from the Lakers struggles, claiming “it’s on Luka to make it work.” Cowherd proceeded to claim the 26-year-old is “aging quickly…his athleticism is regressing.” Again, Cowherd is talking about a player who is averaging 32, 8 and 8 on the season.


Zach Lowe joined in on calling Dončić out, claiming he is “unwatchable” because of how much he whines at the officials. Which in Lowe’s defense, is borderline true. “Unwatchable” might be extreme, but Dončić incessantly complaining to the referees is certainly frustrating to watch, and this is coming from a fan who regularly watches Karl-Anthony Towns.


Brian Windhorst was less dismissive of Dončić specifically Wednesday morning on First Take, but he did admit Luka, LeBron and Austin Reaves just aren’t capable of forming a good team. And maybe the Lakers big three can’t fit together as a cohesive unit. They’re three very talented players. They’re even three unselfish players, but they’re all at their best when the ball is in their hands. So, even when they’re trying to get each other involved, it still seems like only one of the Lakers big three will perform well on the court at a time.

There’s reason to be critical of Luka with the Lakers appearing like a full notch below the teams with a legitimate chance at winning a title this season. And if any one of these takes were given on their own, it probably wouldn’t have been all that noteworthy. But it is interesting to see a wrath of sports media members turn on Luka in the same week. Maybe it’s coincidence. Or maybe LeBron’s camp is starting to feel like this big three can’t fit together and decided to sound the alarms.

About Brandon Contes

Brandon Contes is a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. He previously helped carve the sports vertical for Mediaite and spent more than three years with Barrett Sports Media. Send tips/comments/complaints to bcontes@thecomeback.com

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