Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic knows poor defense cost his team the NBA Cup quarterfinals game against the San Antonio Spurs — he wasn't afraid to admit it during his postgame media availability. The 132-119 loss to the Spurs sent a clear message as to where the Lakers' biggest weakness lies 24 games into the 2025-26 season.
Doncic says it's a hurdle for his team to cross, giving the Lakers “two weeks” to drastically improve their defense, he said, per The Athletic's Dan Wolke.
“We know in the NBA it’s 82 games. So, I would say we got time, but we need to figure it out pretty quickly,” Doncic said. “Our record is pretty good, 17-7, that’s pretty good to start. But I feel like we can be so much better.”
Forfeiting their chance to knock off the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, whom the Lakers haven't faced since LeBron James' return, in the NBA Cup semifinals, Los Angeles surrendered its third loss in five games. The Lakers' defense has given up 125+ points in each of those losses.
Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 35 points, eight assists, and five rebounds. Marcus Smart added 26 points, including eight threes, and LeBron James added 19 points and three blocks.
Austin Reaves agrees with Lakers' biggest ‘weakness' take
Lakers guard Austin Reaves agreed with Rich Paul's assessment that the team's defense has become its biggest weakness. Paul, LeBron James' agent, shared his take in a recent interview, and Reaves wasn't afraid to say he agreed, per ESPN's Dave McMenamin.
“That's a weakness we got to get better at. The spirit is still high in here, we know we can do it … But we have to be a group that guards with five people,” Reaves said after the Lakers' NBA Cup quarterfinal loss to the Spurs.
The Lakers will face the Suns on Sunday.
