Lakers star Luka Doncic given ‘a lot like James Harden’ verdict by Channing Frye
· Yahoo Sports
Former NBA player Channing Frye believes that Luka Doncic could end his career without a championship, while also comparing the Slovenian to James Harden.
Having started the 2026-27 season, averaging 36.2 points, Doncic is once again set to have a big scoring year and will probably be a frontrunner for the MVP trophy.
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This is the first year, the Lakers will have Doncic leading the way without LeBron James, which is why there will be some pressure on him but there is belief that with the way the team are playing, they could make some noise in the Western Conference, especially given the fact that several teams have some injury concerns.
While he has elevated his game and delivered big performances repeatedly throughout his career, the 27-year-old is yet to win his first NBA championship. However, Channing Frye believes it is difficult for Doncic to win a championship due to his usage rate.
Channing Frye compares Luka Doncic to James Harden
Doncic and Harden are both great scorers. With the ball in their hands, they can dominate against any opponents, but Frye believes that is not what leads to a championship.
Harden has a stacked resume, but he has not yet secured a ring and often fails to perform in the playoffs. While Doncic has had big games in the playoffs as well, his defence lets him and his team down.
“I love Luka, I just don’t think the way he plays basketball is going to win a championship, that’s it. I think Luka is a lot like James Harden, both of those guys games are amazing, but their usage rate is not equating to championships, who plays like that, who has played like that and won a championship?” Frye questioned on the Road Tripping Show’s Channing’s Mailbag segment.
According to Basketball Reference, Doncic, at 36.41%, has the highest usage rate for any player in the playoffs in NBA history. James Harden ranks all the way down to 32nd in the postseason, but in the regular season he ranks second on the same list behind Russell Westbrook. Luka Doncic’s usage rate this season at 40.27% is the third most ever in regular season.
Frye’s point has some relevance, as Harden and Doncic both need the ball to make a difference. They can make a difference on offence, but their poor defensive abilities pose a problem in the postseason.
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