Clippers’ Paul George Shades Mavs Star Luka Doncic's Defense

Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic has given Los Angeles Clippers All-Star Paul George nightmares on offense, but George has no fear of Doncic's defensive prowess.

Los Angeles Clippers All-Star Paul George and Dallas Mavericks All-Star Luka Doncic have had their fair share of battles in the regular season and playoffs, and George recently proclaimed his lack of respect for Doncic's defensive capabilities. 

"Some people just can’t play defense, and that’s okay," George said of Doncic on the latest episode of Podcast P with Paul George. "As good as he is offensively, some people just are not gifted defensively and vice versa… Dennis Rodman, great on defense. That’s not his defense."

Doncic ranks No. 440 in defensive rating among 539 active players in 2022-23. He does not have a reputation for being a good perimeter defender. However, it’s a stretch for George to say Doncic isn’t capable of being a good defender when he wants to be.

Averaging 1.4 steals per contest like Doncic did this season requires some sort of defensive knack. He has also had 25 games this year with one or more blocked shots. When it comes to Doncic’s overall lack of defense, it’s more about his effort level on that end than it is a lack of skill.

George has reason to have a competitive attitude against the Mavericks' franchise player. Though his Clippers got the better of the Mavericks in the 2020 and 2021 Western Conference first rounds of the playoffs, Doncic averaged 31 points on 50 percent shooting from the field in 2020 and 35.7 points on 49 percent shooting in 2021. 

In both instances, George and his teammate Kawhi Leonard took turns being Doncic's primary defender, and George also did not play the way he normally does at his peak either time.

With Los Angeles headed to the playoffs while Dallas has been sent home early, now was as opportune a time as ever for George to be candid about his take on Doncic's capabilities — or lack thereof — when playing defense. 

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