Luka Doncic silences naysayers with bold message on playing style: “I do have speed, I just don’t show it” 

Luka Doncic has often drawn criticism for a perceived decline in athleticism and ongoing conditioning concerns, but on the latest episode of the “Mind the Game” podcast, released Saturday, he pushed back, saying speed has never been the foundation of his game.

While Steve Nash discussed the Finals-bound OKC Thunder, who’ve topped the Western Conference for two straight seasons, he asked Doncic about managing tempo against such a “handsy” and “athletic” squad.

“I do have speed, I just don’t show it,” Doncic replied.

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According to Second Spectrum data, Luka Doncic averaged 3.73 miles per hour in the 2024-25 season, ranking as the seventh slowest among players with at least 500 minutes.

But he shares that company with elite names, with LeBron James, Chris Paul, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, James Harden and Jayson Tatum also sitting in the bottom 10.

During the same podcast, James praised Doncic’s deliberate pace.

“It's always been his pace, you know? It's never been a game like, 'Okay, well, you can speed me up. He can speed me up. This bigger guy can be more physical. This smaller guy can get up underneath me.'

“He moves at his own pace. And he's never, ever been on the floor where he’s allowed someone else to dictate where they're going to put him. It's always been the opposite.”

Luka Doncic talks about playing with LeBron James

Following one of the most shocking trades in NBA history, which sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers in exchange for a package led by Anthony Davis, the Slovenian star joined forces with LeBron James in L.A., forming a powerful new duo.

Despite already sharing the court with James in regular-season and playoff battles, Doncic said teaming up with the four-time MVP still feels surreal.

"I mean, it's great. You see, I've never played with a guy like this. And, you know, just being traded to LA was different. But just to play with guys like him, like, it's unbelievable.

"I could learn so many stuff, you know. First of all, off the court, you know, all the things he does just to be ready for the game. And obviously on the court, everybody knows what kind of player he is."

Luka Doncic also shared optimism about their growing chemistry.

"I think I still think it's a work in progress. When we two are out there, and AR, you know, he's been playing unbelievable. And I think it's just still a work in progress. You know, I think we're getting better and better every day."

Despite the star-studded pairing, the Lakers were eliminated in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Their most pressing issue — lack of a true center — is expected to be addressed this offseason.

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About the author

John Ezekiel Hirro

John Ezekiel Hirro is an experienced NBA and WNBA journalist at Sportskeeda, with over five years in the field as a news correspondent, sports writer, and Editor-in-Chief. His sports writing career began in high school, where he garnered numerous accolades, including being named the national sports writing champion in 2016.

He earned his journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines in 2024 and served as the Editor-in-Chief of The Varsitarian, the university's official student publication, for four years—the longest in history.

A passionate basketball enthusiast, he became a fan of the OKC Thunder during the Russ-KD-Harden era. Russell Westbrook, his all-time favorite athlete, impressed him by stepping up as MVP after Kevin Durant's departure. His current favorite players include Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, who he believes are the future of the OKC franchise.

He excels in game analysis and rapid news story turnaround, drawing inspiration from the journalistic styles of Woj and Shams. He emphasizes thorough research to ensure accuracy in his articles. One of his most memorable moments is Russell Westbrook breaking Oscar Robertson's record with his 42nd triple-double and securing a 106-105 victory over the Denver Nuggets with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer. Outside of writing, he enjoys listening to music and creating Spotify playlists.

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