Luka Doncic silences all criticism about his defense: his latest performance speaks for him

Luka Doncic once again demonstrated that his scoring ability is at another level, but this time he also made the NBA talk about his defensive performance. The guard of the Los Angeles Lakers scored 45 points in the 131-125 victory against the Toronto Raptors and had a historic performance by forcing eight turnovers from the opponent, including five steals and three offensive fouls. A display that earned him praise from his teammates, JJ Redick, and even the coach of the opposing team.

The Slovenian is having an extraordinary moment on offense. With an average of 37.7 points per game, he is the leading scorer in the NBA and has surpassed 40 points in three of his last four games. Against Toronto, he once again led the Lakers, but his influence was not limited to offensive production: he also recorded 15 rebounds, all defensive, and made a difference on the other side of the court.

His defensive performance had an especially striking statistic. Doncic achieved five steals and forced three offensive fouls, becoming the first player to register those numbers in a single game since advanced statistical tracking began in the 2013-14 season, according to ESPN Research.

Doncic claims his defensive evolution: "This year I am better"

The player himself did not hesitate to acknowledge that he is still a long way from being considered the best defender in the league, but he insisted that he has improved this season. Doncic believes that his current performance shows that he is working to enhance an aspect of his game that has historically generated criticism.

"Obviously, I am not the best defender in the NBA, but I think I have taken a step forward this year," commented the Slovenian, who also reached his best rebounding record of the season with 15. "People will say what they want about me... but I know, and my team knows, that this year I am better."

The guard's reaction when he was informed of the praise received during the post-game press conference perfectly summarized his satisfaction. After hearing the words of Walker Kessler and JJ Redick about his defense, Doncic smiled and responded with a single expression: "Finally."

The player also acknowledged that he does not fully understand why a negative image of his defensive performance has taken hold. However, he admitted that during his six and a half seasons in Dallas, he had hardly managed to cause offensive fouls with the frequency he demonstrated now against Toronto.

"That motivates the whole team," Doncic remarked. "I just wanted to improve in that area. And forcing three offensive fouls is not bad for a single game."

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Walker Kessler and JJ Redick highlight Luka's commitment

One of those who valued the performance the most was Walker Kessler. The center joined the Lakers during the preseason to strengthen a defense that finished the 2025-26 campaign ranked 20th in the NBA. Therefore, Doncic's impact in that regard had special significance for the interior.

"Five steals and three offensive fouls... incredible," Kessler pointed out. "It's something amazing. Luka does not receive the recognition he deserves for his defensive work."

JJ Redick also wanted to especially highlight the three offensive fouls that the Slovenian forced. Two of them came against RJ Barrett and the other against Scottie Barnes. For the Lakers coach, these types of actions reflect a facet of leadership that is not always reflected in offensive statistics.

"I think, in general, forcing an offensive foul is a form of leadership, right? You put your body on the line for the team," Redick said. "... He wants to win. His competitiveness often shows on offense, but he is also a competitive player on defense."

The appreciation did not remain solely within the Lakers' environment. Darko Rajakovic, the coach of Toronto, also acknowledged the great physical and sporting moment that Doncic is going through.

"This year he has come back in excellent shape," he stated. "He looks healthy. When he is healthy and ready to play, he is simply unstoppable. Tonight he was exceptional."

Mamukelashvili highlights Doncic's defensive pride

Sandro Mamukelashvili, who contributed 11 points coming off the bench against his former team, also focused on the mentality of the Lakers' guard. For the player, Doncic's defensive improvement mainly stems from his competitive pride and his will to change the perception of himself.

"You can tell he has pride," Mamukelashvili stated. "He has pride and he is hungry. He is firmly determined not to be labeled as that player who anyone can attack."

The Toronto player also wanted to highlight the difficulty of defending Doncic on offense. His ability to create advantages and find shots even when he has several defenders on him forces opposing teams to provide constant help.

"You need three players to guard him," he said. "I feel like every time Luka plays, he is going to score more than 35 points."

The performance against the Raptors leaves an important conclusion for the Lakers: Doncic remains an offensively almost impossible threat to control, but he is managing to add defensive resources that can elevate his collective impact even more. His 45 points were again the team's main reference, although this time it was his five steals and the three offensive fouls forced that earned him the most recognition.

The Slovenian does not intend to present himself as the best defender in the NBA, but he does want to make it clear that he is progressing. And after a night in which he received praise from both benches, it seems that he is starting to get his critics to recognize that evolution as well.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Luka Doncic silencia todas las críticas sobre su defensa: su última actuación habla por él