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Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic has long been one of the NBA’s best players. Known for controlling the game despite lacking elite speed, Doncic made a surprising remark about his quickness during an appearance on the Mind the Game podcast with Steve Nash and LeBron James.
“[The Thunder] speed people up. They can't speed him up… What's your take?” Nash asked Doncic in the podcast’s most recent episode.
“I have speed, I just don’t show it,” Doncic replied while smiling.
Steve Nash: "[The Thunder] speed people up. They can't speed him up… What's your take?"
Luka Doncic: “I have speed, I just don’t show it.” 👀
(via @mindthegamepod)pic.twitter.com/w8xnumYeSA
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 2, 2025
Doncic’s style is often praised for its poise and control, standing out in a league filled with speed and explosiveness. His knack for shifting pace and direction while maintaining balance—and throwing defenders off theirs—has become a hallmark of his game.
Luka Doncic with the Lakers
The Lakers star hasn’t needed to rely on speed to dominate offensively. At 26, he put up 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game during the 2024-25 stint with Los Angeles.
Doncic dictates tempo on his terms, and defenses have consistently failed to throw him off rhythm. Even the surging Oklahoma City Thunder, have struggled to contain him. Steve Nash pointed out that OKC can’t force Doncic to play faster—an edge that’s fueled his success in their matchups. He ousted the Thunder in last year’s Conference Semifinals, and there was plenty of intrigue around how he might have fared against them again this postseason.
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Similarly, Doncic has faced steady criticism for lacking the foot speed to keep up with opposing players—an issue that's only grown since he added weight in recent years. While his slower pace works offensively, it’s a liability on defense, where opponents often blow by him. The Lakers would welcome any flashes of quickness he’s yet to show on that end of the floor.
Doncic surrendered more blow-bys in Game 5 against the Minnesota Timberwolves than any other player in this year’s playoffs. While it wasn’t the main reason behind the Lakers’ elimination, the Timberwolves repeatedly driving past him made matters worse.
Doncic already slimmed down
Despite last season’s outcome, Doncic remains one of the NBA’s elite playmakers. Steve Nash shared how impressed he is by Doncic’s knack for delivering late passes, and asked whether that skill was natural or something he developed over time.
LeBron James praised Doncic for how effortlessly he controls the tempo of a game — a strength James has long excelled at himself. With training camp giving them time to build chemistry, it’ll be exciting to watch how the two stars operate together next season.
Videos from Luka Doncic’s 2018-19 rookie season have resurfaced on social media, showing a noticeably quicker and more agile version of the Lakers star. With reports suggesting he’s already slimmed down this offseason, there’s growing optimism that improved conditioning will help boost his speed and impact on both ends of the court next season.
