Former NBA player Kendrick Perkins has taken aim at Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic, criticizing his defensive effort. Perkins expressed his frustration with Doncic’s lack of defensive intensity, particularly his tendency to get blown by on defense.
A Tweet read,
“Kendrick Perkins calls out Luka Doncic for his defensive effort: “We got to stop letting Luka off the hook… Real talk—enough is enough. Like, do you know he’s leading the league defensively with blowbys? No one is asking him to be Jrue Holiday… We’re asking you to be a leader and put forth some f*****g effort and fix your body language.””
Kendrick Perkins calls out Luka Doncic for his defensive effort:
“We got to stop letting Luka off the hook… Real talk—enough is enough. Like, do you know he's leading the league defensively with blowbys? No one is asking him to be Jrue Holiday… We're asking you to be a leader… pic.twitter.com/jssioBG7XR
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) November 20, 2024
Perkins’ Critique
During a recent episode of the “Road Trippin'” podcast, Perkins expressed his frustration with Dončić’s defensive performance. He pointed out that Doncic is leading the league in defensive blowbys, with 43 instances so far this season. Perkins stressed that while Dončić is an offensive powerhouse, his defensive effort has been subpar.
Impact on the Mavericks
The Mavericks have struggled this season, currently holding an 8-7 record. Doncic’s defensive issues have been a significant factor in their inconsistent performance. Perkins argued that Doncic’s lack of effort on defense is contagious and affects the entire team. He urged Dončić to fix his body language and put forth more effort on the defensive end.
Luka Doncic’s Response
Dončić has faced criticism for his defensive play throughout his career. While he has shown flashes of defensive potential, his inconsistency has been a concern. In response to Perkins’ comments, Dončić acknowledged the need to improve and committed to working on his defensive game.
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