Maybe Nico Harrison was right about Luka Dončić after all? As the Dončić-led Los Angeles Lakers endure a tough March, FS1 host Chris Broussard issued a familiar critique of the Slovenian star, highlighting his tendency to shoulder too much of the offensive burden. “I am a huge fan of his, I nicknamed him ‘Luka Legend,’ Larry Bird 2.0, but Luka Dončić is a ball-hog,” Broussard stated on First Things First. “A great ball-hog. A Hall of Fame ball-hog. An all-time elite ball-hog.”
.@Chris_Broussard is delivering some bad news to Lakers fans 👀
“Luka Doncic is a ball hog. A great ball hog. A Hall of Fame ball hog (future). An all-time elite ball hog. HE’S A BALL HOG.” 😅🤣 pic.twitter.com/Yr0VpJNZPW
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) March 25, 2025
Broussard expressed that his criticism stems not only from Dončić’s play affecting teammates like Jalen Brunson and Kyrie Irving but also from how it impacts the legendary LeBron James. He emphasized that this dynamic reduces James to merely a floor-spacer and could be demoralizing for the new Lakers roster. “When you are just watching one guy operate and you’re standing there, even if he’s making some shots, they may be bad shots, and that takes away from your morale. Especially when that guy can’t defend. When he’s getting blown by and beaten on defense and then coming down and shooting all these shots, that seeps away at your morale and affects you on the other end of the floor.”
This criticism echoes the intense feedback delivered by ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst during the 2024 NBA Finals following Dončić’s defensive struggles, as well as the reasoning provided by disgraced Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison when he traded Dončić. However, Broussard remains optimistic about Dončić’s ability to adapt: “I think Luka will adjust naturally. I think he got used to doing this with LeBron out. But if he doesn’t… LeBron is the only one who can really say, ‘look, we’ve gotta do it differently.’”
While Dallas certainly jeopardized its future by trading Dončić during his prime for an aging Anthony Davis and just one first-round pick, the concerns surrounding Dončić persist. Broussard believes the grace period for Dončić to acclimate to the Lakers’ system has come to an end, delivering a clear message to “Luka Legend”: stop hogging the ball.
