Hall of Fame Guard Fires Back at NBA Rookie's Defense, Calls Out Young Stars for Lack of Effort

Charles Barkley took aim at Luka Doncic’s defensive shortcomings during a recent game against the Detroit Pistons. The outspoken NBA legend, who is now an analyst on TNT, couldn’t help but express his frustration with the young superstar’s inability to lock down opposing point guards. “We’re not seeing the same level of defense from Luka that we saw in Dallas,” Barkley said in a post-game interview. “He’s still got that incredible scoring ability, but when it comes to guarding the ball and making game-changing plays on defense, he’s just not there yet.” Barkley’s criticism was aimed at Doncic’s lack of effort in containing Pistons point guard Cade Cunningham. The young Slovenian was beaten by Cunningham multiple times down the court, resulting in easy baskets for Detroit. While some may be quick to defend Doncic, Barkley believes that the 22-year-old needs to step up his defensive game if he wants to take his team to the next level. “Luka’s got all the tools to be a great defender,” Barkley said. “He just needs to put in the work and trust himself on the court.” As for Doncic, he acknowledged that he had an off night defensively but remains confident in his abilities. When asked about Barkley’s comments, Doncic replied, “I know I can be better. I’m working hard to get there, but sometimes it just doesn’t go my way. I’ll learn from this and come back stronger.” The Los Angeles Lakers’ loss to the Pistons marked a rare bad game for Luka Doncic, who is known for his clutch performances on the court. As the NBA season heats up, it will be interesting to see how Doncic’s defense improves – or if he continues to rely on his scoring prowess to carry his team to victory.