Patrick Beverley recently called Luka Doncic the toughest opponent he has had to guard, a statement that has stirred debate among NBA fans over its accuracy and repetition. Beverley made the remarks in response to a viral highlight reel featuring Doncic’s first NBA playoff series against Beverley’s Los Angeles Clippers, where Beverley faced off against the emerging star in intense perimeter defense matchups.
At just 19 years old, Luka Doncic entered the NBA as a promising talent, though noticeably thinner and quicker than the polished player he is today. Since winning Rookie of the Year in 2018-19, the Slovenian star from the Dallas Mavericks has evolved his game and physique, becoming one of the league’s most dominant offensive players. During that early playoff series, Doncic averaged an impressive 31 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 8.7 assists over six games, yet his team fell short against Kawhi Leonard’s playoff performance for the Clippers.
Beverley’s High Praise for Doncic Draws Mixed Fan Reactions
In a recent tweet, Beverley declared,
“Toughest person I ever had to guard. Sheesh,”
reflecting his respect for Doncic’s skill and versatility. While Beverley’s intention was clearly to compliment the Mavericks star, the statement quickly attracted criticism for its repetitiveness, as fans noted the guard has made similar claims about several players over the years.
One fan commented, “True he was cooking you,” agreeing with Beverley’s acknowledgement of Doncic’s offensive prowess. Another questioned the claim by noting,
“When you say that, what do you mean because I seen Kevin Durant give y’all 50 in the playoffs,”
suggesting Durant’s playoff exploits complicated the assertion.
A third user highlighted Beverley’s pattern, pointing out,
“Bro has said this about 5 different people,”
a reference to Beverley’s history of identifying multiple stars as his toughest defensive assignments over time.
Previous Toughest Defender Claims Include Damian Lillard
Indeed, Beverley’s praise for elite scorers is not limited to Doncic. In 2020, during an appearance on JJ Redick’s podcast, Beverley named Damian Lillard as one of his most challenging defensive assignments. At that time, Lillard was recognized as one of the league’s top guards, pushing Beverley to improve his physical conditioning.
Beverley explained, “I say Dame,” and continued with,
Dame is one of the reasons why I went into the weight room. I told my guys, ‘Hey, I gotta get faster laterally. I don’t feel like I’m fast — I can’t keep up with the speed right now. I don’t know if I need to lose weight. I don’t know if I need to get stronger. I don’t know if I need to hire a new f***ing team. But I need to get f***ing faster.
This demonstrates the respect Beverley has for players who challenge him to elevate his defensive game, regardless of who they are.
Significance of Beverley’s Comments and the Fan Reaction
Patrick Beverley’s public admiration of Luka Doncic, despite being a defender known for his tenacity, reflects the respect elite players garner from their toughest opponents. However, Beverley’s repeated labeling of different stars as his hardest covers has prompted skepticism among fans tracking his statements. This ongoing pattern may diminish the perceived uniqueness of each claim.
For now, Luka Doncic remains firmly positioned among the NBA’s elite, a status reinforced by defenders like Beverley who recognize his impact firsthand. Moving forward, Beverley’s remarks will likely continue to provoke discussion about the truly toughest defensive challenges in the league and which players stand apart in their offensive dominance.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Luka Doncic a millionaire?
A. As of 2025, Luka Doncic’s net worth is believed to be around $75 million, based on estimates by Celebrity Net Worth.