No one expects Luka Doncic to be the Dallas Mavericks' primary defensive stopper. But LA Clippers forward Paul George said what most think when examining the defensive side of Doncic's game. 

Frankly, he isn't very good. 

"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, in 2022-23, wasn't as committed to the defensive end of the floor as he was last season. 

The Mavericks' struggles all season can somewhat be blamed on Doncic's unwillingness to "participate" on defense. 

"I don’t think the offense is the problem," Doncic said after a team practice on April 4. "I’ve always said this. It’s our defensive end. I think anybody can score on us. Whoever it is, anybody can score on us."

Doncic sits at No. 440 in defensive rating among 539 active players in 2022-23.

"Sometimes it's really hard for me to play really hard on both ends," Doncic previously said. "But obviously, the defensive end, I gotta be way better."

Doncic, for the first time in his professional career, has time to rest and analyze where his game can improve heading into the 2023-24 season. That means looking at how he can compete at a higher level on the defensive end. 

But if Dallas asks Doncic to be everything on offense yet again, it will be hard for him to focus on also playing a role in stopping the opposing team's best players.