Marcus Smart, Luka Doncic, Lakers
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Luka Doncic #77 and Marcus Smart #36 of the Los Angeles Lakers laugh in front of Gary Payton II #0 of the Golden State Warriors during a 119-109 Warriors win in the season opening game between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on October 21, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Add Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart to the growing list of players, analysts and fans who are tired of Luka Doncic’s constant whining to officials.
After Thursday’s 135-117 loss to the Charlotte Hornets, Smart called out his teammates for incessantly whining to referees instead of getting back on defense.
“Instead of getting back, we’re talking to the officials a lot,” Smart said of his team’s mediocre transition defense [H/T LakersDaily]. “That definitely doesn’t help. We gotta be able to play on and move on to the next play.”
While he did not explicitly name Doncic, it was evident to whom he was alluding with his postgame remarks.
‘Whiner’ Luka Doncic Roasted
Doncic was also roasted on the air for a terrible defensive sequence that swung the momentum in the Hornets’ favor on Thursday.
When the Lakers trailed by 10 points, 70-60, earlier in the third quarter, Doncic thought he was fouled by Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel when he attempted a midrange shot. Instead of hurrying back on defense, he trotted back gingerly up the court, leading to a wide-open three for Miles Bridges. As soon as Bridges made the three, Doncic began barking at the referees, receiving a well-deserved technical foul.
‘Whiner’ Luka Doncic Called Out Live on the Air
“This guy is a whiner,” Hornets play-by-play announcer Eric Collins said on the air about Doncic. The four-point swing proved critical in the Lakers’ loss.
Concerning Trend for Lakers
It’s worth noting that Collins isn’t the first announcer to roast Doncic on the air for his poor transition defense this season. During the NBA Cup quarterfinal loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Dec. 10, “NBA on Prime” analyst Stan Van Gundy blasted Doncic on at least two separate instances when the Slovenian was busy arguing with a referee over a non-call instead of helping his teammates on the defensive end.
“That’s the second time he hasn’t gotten back on defense,” Van Gundy fumed on the air after Doncic’s Spurs matchup completed a wide-open layup.
There’s obviously no easy fix to the Lakers’ 26th-ranked defense, but it doesn’t help when their best offensive player routinely allows opponents to blow by him.
Marcus Smart, a former Defensive Player of the Year, knows what an elite defensive team looks like, and he knows the Lakers may not have the personnel to be even servicable. After Thursday’s loss, he highlighted the concerning trend of teams shooting higher percentages when they face his team.
“I mean, it doesn’t matter who it is. Doesn’t matter the team, doesn’t matter the player,” Smart said of the Lakers, via Broderick Turner of LA Times.
“If they were shooting 20% [before], they’re shooting 50%. And it’s unfortunate, but that’s part of the game. It’s tough. We got to figure it out. We got to play with a little bit more urgency on that end, especially, and kind of impose our will. It’s not easy. Especially when you play for the Lakers, you always are the hunted— no matter what.”
While LaMelo Ball (30 points on 50% shooting) had a field day on Thursday, several other speedy, dribble-penetrating guards have feasted against the Lakers all season.