Luka Doncic’s extraordinary ball dominance, the highest usage rate in NBA history at 35.8 percent, is prompting the Los Angeles Lakers to rethink their offensive approach this season. The team is aiming to reduce its reliance on Doncic by increasing off-ball movement and speeding up the pace, a strategy that coach JJ Redick outlined ahead of their recent win over the Sacramento Kings.
The Lakers finished 11th in points and 10th in offensive rating last season despite Doncic’s impressive averages of 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. Those numbers led the NBA in scoring but did not fully translate into offensive efficiency for the team. The problem, Redick said, is the offense’s predictability, heavily centered around Doncic running pick and rolls every possession.
“Luka and I have talked throughout last season and again in the summer,” Redick said. “He likes the off-ball stuff… It’s diversification. Sometimes, you can get caught up in the numbers but early pick and rolls with Austin [Reaves] and Luka are actually very good half-court numbers, like [points per possession] wise. Elite, actually. That’s not to say we’re not going to do that but, habitually, we don’t want to start day one just running drags every time down the floor.”
The Lakers ranked 22nd in pace last season, indicating a slower style of play that limited transition opportunities. This preseason, the team has shown a willingness to push the tempo and explore faster offensive options that could ease the burden on Doncic. Increasing pace not only opens up scoring chances but also forces defenses to adjust, potentially reducing their ability to clamp down on Doncic’s ball handling.
Adding more ball-handlers to the roster supports this shift. Guard Collin Sexton, sidelined so far in the preseason due to injury, offers the ability to create fast-break opportunities, score, and facilitate. Two-way wing Quentin Grimes provides complementary ball-handling skills that can help spread the floor and reduce the offensive load on Doncic.
Last season, the Lakers’ defense was a major talking point, finishing 20th in defensive rating. While the team has focused on a more aggressive defensive approach, offensive concerns remain. Doncic’s style of play, often described as ball-dominant, has drawn criticism for its potential limitations in a championship context. The Lakers are responding by encouraging a more free-flowing offense with increased movement off the ball.
Coach Redick’s comments signal a desire to diversify the offense without abandoning the strengths of the Doncic-Reaves pick and roll. The two combined for efficient half-court production last year, but mixing in off-ball actions and faster transitions is seen as a way to make the Lakers less predictable and more dynamic.
The team’s recent preseason performances suggest an openness to change. Incorporating more off-ball screens and rolls, as well as pushing the pace, could provide Doncic with more varied looks and reduce his individual workload. The hope is that this will improve the Lakers’ offensive efficiency while preserving Doncic’s scoring and playmaking abilities.
The latest confirmed development is that the Lakers continue to experiment with these strategies in preseason games, with Redick emphasizing the importance of balance between traditional pick and roll sets and new off-ball movements. As Collin Sexton recovers and returns to the lineup, the Lakers’ offense may gain further flexibility, allowing Doncic to play less with the ball in his hands and more as a threat moving without it.
According to Yahoo Sports.