Everyone in Los Angeles has been excited about just how the offseason body transformation of Luka Doncic could improve his game. One of the immediate answers has been the boost it has offered him on the defensive end of the basketball court.
Doncic has been so great for Slovenia at EuroBasket 2025 with his defense that he was highlighted as a finalist for the first-ever Best Defensive Player award at the competition. That is a stark difference for a player who has often been criticized for his ability on that end.
Some of the other notable names brought up in the polling include: Finland's Lauri Markkanen, Georgia's Goga Bitadze, Germany's Dennis Schroder, former Los Angeles Lakers guard Isaac Bonga, Doncic's teammate Edo Muric, and Turkey's Adem Bona.
Whether or not Doncic ultimately claims the award is inconsequential. What his name being brought up among the leading candidates means for the Lakers is the key focus. The positives to be found from an improved Luka on the defensive end will help alleviate plenty of concerns for JJ Redick ahead of next season.
Dialed-in Doncic can lead Lakers beyond their expectations
Doncic's defensive deficiencies have always been overstated. Even so, it is encouraging to see the Lakers superstar swing the direction of the conversation so mightily with his performance at EuroBasket.
Many will pay attention to Doncic being the leading scorer from the competition, and rightfully so. Doncic's 34.0 points during 33.4 minutes per game through six games is an incredible feat and one hell of a carry job for the Slovenian superstar.
However, the ability to create extra possessions for his team should not be lost in the shuffle. Doncic also leads the EuroBasket 2025 tournament with 3.2 steals per game.
Who is the best defensive player of #EuroBasket? 🔐
🗳️ VOTE: https://t.co/T5q2mQPqvA pic.twitter.com/jnP8vg1vCF
— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) September 9, 2025
Luka has even shown a little bit of shot-blocking prowess too, swatting 0.7 per game. This is all a long way of saying Doncic has been fantastic as a defender while leading his Slovenian national team to the quarterfinals of the competition.
The NBA will offer far more difficult challenges for Doncic than EuroBasket has. The athletes are better and that has proven to be an uphill battle for the superstar point guard in the past.
However, if the defender seen in the NBA next season is a lot closer to that of what has been on display at EuroBasket 2025, the Lakers will be so much better off for it. Boasting an elite defensive unit with Doncic in the mix certainly is not impossible.
The Lakers had a confident stretch as the league's best defense during the 2024-25 season. The Dallas Mavericks also ranked fifth in defensive rating (110.7) during their push for a championship in the 2024 NBA Playoffs.
Doncic's opportunity to showcase this transformation is very really will be rapidly approaching. 2025-26 will be his proving ground.