There’s no doubt that Luka Doncic is one of the best players in the entire NBA. Doncic led the NBA in scoring for the first time in his career last season, and arguments were made that Doncic was robbed of winning the 2023-24 MVP.
Doncic seemingly used not winning MVP as motivation in the 2024 NBA Playoffs, and led the Mavs to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2011. Even though the Mavs didn’t prevail to win the Finals against the Celtics, Doncic will still be an elite player for years.
However, there is one problem that a lot of people say about Doncic that he needs to improve. If Doncic was to fix this one major problem, he would be more unstoppable than he already is.
Since entering the NBA in 2018, Doncic has been known to complain to referees during games. In the 2024 NBA Playoffs, Doncic would be seen complaining to the referees often, and it was under the spotlight for all to see.
In Game 3 of the 2024 NBA Finals, the Mavs lost the game, and Doncic fouled out and immediately whined to the officials. Reports came out that Doncic apologized to his teammates for fouling out, and that Mavs players “begged him” to stop whining to referees. The fact that players had to beg him says a lot, and that they’re tired of him whining. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst had heavy criticism for Doncic when he fouled out in Game 3.
It’s one thing in sports to be competitive, and Doncic is a very competitive player. It’s another thing if a player is competitive, but often complains about not getting a call to go their way to referees and takes it too far.
Doncic focusing on playing the game rather than arguing with the referees worked wonders for him in the playoffs when he focussed on it, and he’s truly at his best when all of his energy and effort goes into hooping, not arguing.
Every player argues with the referees at some point or another, but when it prevents you from getting back on defense, that’s a problem.
Doncic has been known for his competitiveness with his trash-talking. Doncic’s signature trash talk moment during the 2024 NBA Playoffs was in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals against the Timberwolves in Minneapolis. Snoop Dogg was at the game sitting courtside when Doncic shouted out “who’s crying now, (expletive)” to a Minnesota fan after an and-one.
With losing the 2024 Finals, maybe it was a good thing for Doncic to make him humbled and mature at 25 years old. Elite players need that moment for them to humble them, and Doncic can use the Finals loss to help him. NBA Hall of Famer Grant Hill called out Doncic to improve his maturity and gamesmanship during the Finals.
“I think one the maturity and the gamesmanship that goes into the interacting with officials,” Hill said. “You have to pick and choose your spots. If you’re constantly getting on them and getting distracted and getting caught up in that game within the game, then you become a problem.”
If Doncic can fix his whining to referees, it would make him more unstoppable. Doncic enters the 2024-25 season destined to win his first MVP and lead the Mavs on another deep playoff run.
If Doncic was able to keep his complaining to a minimum, it would allow him to conserve some energy and get back on defense quicker. Both of these things are important, and this could be an easy fix to help him improve his game.
It would also be a better look to the media, and it could help him net some more votes for MVP.
