For all of Luka Doncic’s individual brilliance, there’s a growing concern that his style of play may be undermining the very teammates he needs to succeed. A player’s game has two sides: individual and team-centered. Lately, Doncic has been boosting both his own numbers and the Los Angeles Lakers’ record, but when it comes to teammates, particularly LeBron James and Austin Reaves, he may be falling short.

Recently, NBA legend Eddie Johnson shared a few words about this on SiriusXM NBA Radio. “Luka can’t keep taking 29–30 shots on a team with good offensive players. I think Luka, because he’s been so hot lately, and he’s a young player still, really, he truly is,” Johnson said. “He thinks a shot with two dudes hanging on you is a shot that he can make when you’ve got somebody wide open next to you.”

Johnson is implying that Luka Doncic is falling into a scorer’s trap. Letting his recent hot streak and confidence push him toward forcing difficult, contested shots instead of making smarter, team-oriented decisions.

Despite having capable offensive teammates like James and Reaves, Doncic acts as if he can consistently convert low-percentage shots instead of trusting the offense and passing to open players. Johnson is questioning Luka’s shot selection and suggesting he needs to balance his scoring instincts with better playmaking awareness.

That concern showed up clearly in the Lakers’ 113–110 loss to the Detroit Pistons on March 23. Doncic attempted 29 shots, finishing with 32 points—but many came on difficult, contested looks. Meanwhile, cleaner options existed throughout the game, from rolling bigs to open midrange opportunities for James. The issue isn’t production—it’s shot selection and offensive balance.

To better understand this dynamic, a look at how similar high-usage superstars have navigated the same challenge in the past is telling. Westbrook’s historic 2016–17 season produced unmatched individual production, as he averaged a triple-double and carried an enormous offensive load.

But that same high-usage, ball-dominant style often drew criticism for limiting the rhythm and involvement of his teammates. While the Thunder remained competitive, their playoff ceiling remained constrained, raising questions about whether a heliocentric approach could translate into sustained team success.

A similar narrative followed Allen Iverson with the Philadelphia 76ers in the early 2000s. Iverson’s scoring brilliance powered a 2001 Finals run, but his heavy shot volume and reliance on isolation offense often required a roster specifically built to compensate for that style.

But why did Eddie Johnson make such a comment about Luka?

Luka Doncic’s habit mirrors challenges for LeBron James and Austin Reaves

Luka’s current numbers reflect a similar trend. He leads the league in usage rate at 37.8% while averaging over 22 field-goal attempts per game, a figure that has recently climbed closer to 30 in multiple outings. Those 29- and 30-shot performances against Detroit and Orlando highlight a growing tendency to force offense, even when more efficient options are available.

Meanwhile, LeBron James operates differently, taking 15.5 shots across 52 games while shooting 51.3%, even at 41 with over 31,350 attempts logged.

Even late in his career, he remains highly efficient on significantly fewer attempts, while Reaves has proven capable of capitalizing on expanded opportunities. Yet when Doncic dominates possession, their involvement and the offense’s overall flow can stall.

This is where the line gets drawn for Luka Doncic: His scoring ability is undeniable, but if the Lakers are to reach their ceiling, it will depend on whether he can channel that brilliance into a system that consistently empowers those around him—not just overwhelms defenses alone.