Channing Frye believes Luka Doncic will never win an NBA championship with his current playstyle. That’s the cold hard truth from the former NBA player, who didn’t hold back on the latest episode of Channing’s Mailbag when asked if Doncic could win a title with his high usage rate. Frye’s not saying Doncic will *never* win one, but he’s adamant it won’t happen if Luka doesn’t change what he’s doing on the court.
The Usage Rate Is Getting Ugly
Frye’s take is super clear: “I do not think that he will win with that style of play and high usage rate.” He pointed out that Doncic plays a physical game and is “usually beat up by the time” the critical moments hit. For Frye, it all comes down to Luka needing to trust his teammates more and “get off the rock a little bit.” He even said, “Luka’s greatness is not better than OKC or San Antonio or New York or Philly, no matter how great Luka is individually.” Ouch. And it’s not just Frye; Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen isn’t even sure Doncic will make it back to the NBA Finals with his current approach. You have to wonder when you see stats like Doncic’s 36.0% usage rate, which led the entire NBA in the 2025-26 season, even when he was sharing the court with LeBron James and Austin Reaves. That’s wild.
The Lakers’ Rocky Road and Luka’s Future
Doncic has been on a rollercoaster recently, especially when you look back. He led the Dallas Mavericks to the 2024 NBA Finals, where they lost in five games to the Boston Celtics. Then, after moving to the Lakers, things got rough fast. They stunningly lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games in the first round in 2025. And in 2026, he was out with a grade 2 left hamstring strain when the Oklahoma City Thunder swept the Lakers in the Western Conference Semifinals. Two brutal years, no doubt. Luka is 27 years old and in his prime, but Frye, who played alongside LeBron James himself, thinks the only way Doncic gets to the top is if he realizes he needs to change his game. Frye even openly despises the Lakers’ roster overhaul this offseason, making it clear he doesn’t see them making a deep playoff run. He’s got them ranked eighth in his Western Conference standings! Despite all that, Doncic’s individual stats from 2025-26 are insane: 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game. He is just that good. If he stays healthy, the Lakers should still grab a top-six seed and an automatic playoff berth. But as Frye points out, it’s highly unlikely Doncic leads *this* Lakers squad to a title.
It’s a tough spot for Luka. He’s made the Finals once and the Western Conference Finals in 2022, so he probably backs himself to get over the line eventually. But Frye’s words hang heavy: an exceptional talent can still end up among the many great players who never lifted the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy. The longer that remains true, the louder the chatter will get.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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