Michael Cooper Criticizes Luka Dončić's Defense

Former NBA star Michael Cooper recently criticized Luka Dončić's defensive effort during a segment on his podcast, 'Showtime with Coop'. Cooper, a Hall of Famer and five-time champion, stated that while Dončić is a prolific scorer capable of triple-doubles, he finds him 'lazy' and 'too slow', particularly on defense, prompting him to bench Dončić in favor of starting Damian Lillard. This criticism echoes a broader concern regarding Dončić's conditioning and hustle, which has been highlighted during previous seasons and notably in the recent NBA Finals where he struggled against the Celtics. Cooper pointed out that Dončić often pouts and complains to referees instead of hustling back on defense, which was particularly evident during the Finals. Despite Dončić's impressive offensive accolades, including multiple All-NBA selections and a scoring title, Cooper's comments reflect a growing critique of his overall game. These criticisms have also been echoed by other personalities, including former Super Bowl champion LeSean McCoy, who described Dončić as the 'worst All-Star' due to his lack of defensive effort.