Luka Doncic was brought to Los Angeles to elevate the Lakers. So far, he’s definitely taken over-but not everyone’s thrilled about how it’s going.
After a rocky March where the Lakers dropped key games and chemistry seemed to slip, attention has turned to Doncic’s style of play. FS1’s Chris Broussard, usually a vocal supporter of the Slovenian star, didn’t hold back on First Things First this week.
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“I love Luka, I’ve called him ‘Luka Legend,’” Broussard said. “But man, the guy is just monopolizing the offense right now. It’s too much.”
The issue isn’t just the volume of Doncic’s touches-it’s who’s getting left out. Broussard pointed out that even LeBron James, at age 40 still one of the most intelligent and efficient players in the game, has been turned into a glorified floor-spacer in the current offense. “That’s not how you use LeBron,” Broussard said. “It’s borderline disrespectful.”
.@Chris_Broussard is delivering some bad news to Lakers fans
“Luka Doncic is a ball hog. A great ball hog. A Hall of Fame ball hog (future). An all-time elite ball hog. HE’S A BALL HOG.”
pic.twitter.com/Yr0VpJNZPW
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) March 25, 2025
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That frustration isn’t new. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst made similar comments during last year’s NBA Finals, calling out Doncic’s defensive lapses and tunnel-vision offense. Now, the same issues are showing up in purple and gold-and at the expense of a living legend.
To be fair, Doncic has dealt with a lot this season, including injuries around him and the pressure of filling LeBron-sized shoes whenever James has sat out. But the grace period seems to be over. This is LeBron’s team-or at least it was supposed to be.
Zach Lowe weighed in on The Lowe Post, hinting that the Lakers’ locker room isn’t exactly thrilled with the current dynamic. “LeBron didn’t come back to stand in the corner while someone else takes 30 shots and gives up 30 points on the other end,”Lowe said.
James holds a player option this summer. If things don’t change, people around the league are already whispering: could LeBron walk? It wouldn’t be the first time he’s pivoted to find a better shot at a title. And right now, the Lakers look more like a solo act than a championship-caliber team.