NBA champion claims Luka Doncic has ‘disrespected the NBA’ and throws down a challenge

Doncic has never shied away from saying that he finds the NBA game less challenging than European basketball.

That view has not gone down well with everyone. Former Lakers forward and 2002 NBA champion Samaki Walker feels Doncic’s comments show a lack of respect for the league.

“The guy is a basketball savant. He’s special, a one-of-a-kind player. It’s a two-way sport. Offense/defense.

“I personally feel, and I love Luka offensively, but I feel like over the last couple of years he disrespected the NBA because I follow him,” Walker said on The Coach JB Show.

Luka Doncic challenged by Samaki Walker to prove his defensive mindset

There is no question that Doncic ranks among the league’s elite offensive talents. But on the defensive end, he has taken plenty of heat over the years, and those questions have not gone away.

Walker did not hold back either, joining a growing list of voices who feel that Doncic has not committed enough effort to that side of the game.

“He goes back to Europe and talks about how soft the NBA is. Yeah, he does not play any defense. I take that personally,” Walker continued.

He wrapped up his comments with a direct challenge: “I want to see if he is actually in shape, and he has the mentality to play defense. Hell, you can get in shape, but it still takes a mentality to play D.”

Doncic has heard these kinds of criticisms before. Even Gary Payton recently put out a similar challenge ahead of the 2025-26 season, asking Luka to step up defensively.