Carmelo Anthony didn’t hold back when discussing Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers‘ struggles, suggesting LeBron James is prioritizing his health over holding his teammates accountable, leaving gaps in leadership on and off the court.
Doncic’s offensive brilliance is undeniable, routinely posting 30-plus points while orchestrating the team’s game flow, yet defensive lapses remain.
And Anthony says the Lakers lack a veteran voice willing to push the Slovenian toward full accountability, despite LeBron being the senior player of the team at 41.
On the latest episode of the 7PM in Brooklyn podcast, Anthony and PJ Tucker broke down Luka’s defensive shortcomings, while subtly highlighting James’ absence as a motivator on that end of the floor.
“I need Luka to do the little things,” Tucker said. “To be able to get the stops and put us in position to win and not be in coverage throwing your hands up and all the mannerisms like you don’t give a sh*t.”
Anthony added perspective on how Doncic’s defensive assignments often target the third, fourth, or fifth options, which are no longer easy matchups in today’s NBA.
“When the 3rd/4th options see Luka, their eyes is big,” Anthony remarked. “Bron not doing it.
“He is trying to figure his sh** out. He trying to navigate his sh**. He trying to stay healthy.”
Anthony stressed that veterans like Udonis Haslem or Tucker would have enforced accountability as the Lakers look to chase down a first NBA championship since the 2020 closed-doors campaign.
“JJ wants to hold the motherf**ker accountable,” Anthony continued. “But he know, can’t really hold him accountable because he giving me 40.
“This is where the guys like PJ, guys like Udonis Haslem…has to be somebody on that bench he respects.”
The larger issue for the Lakers is defining their identity with Luka as the centerpiece, balancing his scoring brilliance with defensive accountability, a gap that could prove costly in the playoffs when opponents exploit every flaw.
LeBron sends locker room message after Lakers’ latest failure
The Lakers have now lost three consecutive games, highlighting defensive struggles and inconsistencies in shooting while facing top-tier teams, including Sacramento, which exploited interior gaps and transition opportunities.
Los Angeles‘ offense faltered beyond the arc, connecting on just 8-of-36 three-point attempts, while bench players struggled to provide impact, leaving starters overextended against aggressive opponents.
LeBron James addressed the situation after the loss, noting the uphill battle on defense as the team continues conceding big plays.
“We were fighting uphill obviously…any shot that they make…feels like a back breaker,” James said as Sacramento’s attack exposed weaknesses, scoring 46 points in the paint, while perimeter efficiency compounded the Lakers’ struggles.
With multiple Kings players converting critical opportunities on clean looks, turnovers also led to 17 points off easy transition chances.
This magnified the team’s execution issues on both ends, leaving Los Angeles scrambling late in the game and underscoring the need for internal accountability.
Even amid challenges, LeBron emphasized the importance of following the game plan for upcoming matchups, signaling a focus on structure and resilience despite the Lakers’ current imbalance between scoring talent and defensive responsibility.
