Luka Doncic delivered another high-scoring performance Thursday night, becoming just the fourth player in Los Angeles Lakers history to record nine 40-point games in a single season. However, the individual milestone came in a 113-110 loss to the Phoenix Suns, who were without Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, and Jordan Goodwin.
The defeat marked the Lakers’ third straight loss and their fifth in seven games, prompting criticism from former Laker and three-time NBA champion Danny Green.
During a postgame appearance, Green questioned whether Doncic’s scoring volume is coming at the expense of offensive balance. He suggested that while 40-point outings are impressive, reducing that total slightly could create more opportunities for LeBron James, Austin Reaves, and others to get into rhythm.
Ball Movement Under Scrutiny
In the loss to Phoenix, Doncic attempted 21 shots and drew 12 free-throw attempts. James and Reaves combined for 28 field-goal attempts and totaled 29 points. Similar patterns have emerged during the recent skid. In a loss to the Boston Celtics, Reaves attempted 10 shots, and in a defeat against the Orlando Magic, James took 13.
Over the three-game losing streak, Doncic averaged 22.3 shot attempts per contest, while James and Reaves have combined for 29.4. During that stretch, Doncic also held the lowest plus-minus on the team, with the Lakers being outscored by 3.7 points when he is on the floor.
Former NBA head coach Sam Mitchell also weighed in recently, suggesting on SiriusXM NBA Radio that Doncic’s ball-dominant style could create tension within a locker room. Mitchell questioned how younger players might respond if they are expected to meet defensive standards while the team’s star is not held to the same level of accountability.
The timing of these concerns is significant. The Lakers now enter a demanding stretch that includes road games against the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, and Detroit Pistons, along with home matchups against the New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Cleveland Cavaliers.
If Los Angeles cannot address its offensive balance and defensive consistency, the margin for error will shrink quickly in a tightly contested Western Conference, increasing the risk of slipping into the play-in picture.
