RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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While just about everyone considers Luka Doncic to be one of the NBA's best players, there are plenty who doubt that he can and will win a championship. The pundits point to his extremely high-usage style of play, defensive shortcomings and supposed lack of fitness and conditioning as reasons why he won't lead his team to the promised land.
Former NBA big man Channing Frye is one of those doubters. During an episode on his "Channing's Mailbag" YouTube show, he said that Doncic will not win a ring with that current high-usage style of play, although he did say that he thinks Doncic will eventually win it all.
“I think Luka will win a championship. I do not think that he will win with that style of play and high usage rate. He needs a team around him, sure, but he plays physical and is usually beat up by the time. Did he miss his one chance? No. I just think something’s going to come around where Luka got to come to grips with like, that’s not what is going to win.
“Luka’s greatness is not better than OKC or San Antonio or New York or Philly, no matter how great Luka is individually. So you got to build an NBA team around him where he trusts and can get off the rock a little bit more.”
Doncic has the highest career usage rate in NBA history at 35.8, and he has led the league in that category in four of his eight seasons. While he has put up super impressive numbers, it has taken a bit of a toll on him physically, and some feel it was a factor that contributed to the hamstring strain that prematurely ended his 2025-26 season in early April.
With Austin Reaves signing a four-year, $185 million contract this summer and the Lakers bringing in explosive ball-handling guard Collin Sexton, they seem to have the tools needed to let Doncic play off the ball more and make things a little easier on him.
He averaged 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 1.6 steals a game last season and won his second scoring title. Now that LeBron James is gone, multiple players will need to step up to replace his production and responsibilities rather than pin that entire task on Doncic.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Channing Frye: Luka Doncic's current style of play won't get it done
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