Luka Doncic Gives Big Honor to New Orleans Pelicans Forward

The Lakers superstar gave his flowers to a certain Pelicans defender.

Mar 4, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) controls the ball against New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Some, looking at the NBA from an outside perspective, believe that defense is no longer emphasized. When criticisms of the league are looked at from those who do not watch entire games, seasons, and players for long periods of time, defense is the most common issue that many point to.

Those within the league, and who play the game, whether in the NBA, college, overseas, or even at a local gym, know that the league now has some of the most athletic defenders basketball has ever seen.

5 minutes of 2023/24 Herb Jones defensive highlights https://t.co/3wOSsgbJoh pic.twitter.com/KG1eJBol65

— Charlotte⚠️🇵🇸🇸🇩🇨🇩 (@wispaige) September 12, 2025

With players such as Amen Thompson, Luguentz Dort, Tomani Camara, Dyson Daniels, and Herb Jones, the NBA has a wide group of players who are playing at an extremely elite level on the defensive end.

Luka Doncic Gives Praise to Herb Jones

Back in 2023, after the Dallas Mavericks played the New Orleans Pelicans, superstar Luka Doncic talked about Herb Jones in his postgame interview saying, “He’s just a great defender. You could see his impact today because he wasn’t there the first game. I really admire that guy.”

Luka Doncic gives his flowers to Herb Jones

(🎥: @GrantAfseth) https://t.co/DwDZx94eGA pic.twitter.com/HpaMZs1iOy

— Jake Hardee (@pelicansbyjake) November 15, 2023

Now, in 2025, the Los Angeles Lakers star revealed his two players who give him the most issues in the NBA in a new story from Jason Gay of the Wall Street Journal.

"Basketball will come first. Doncic is eager to get to training camp. This summer he helped recruit the former Celtics defensive pest Marcus Smart, one of two players Doncic cites as the biggest headaches he’s faced (the other: New Orleans’s Herb Jones)," Gay wrote.

How Has Jones Done Against Doncic?

Not many players, if any, are stopping Luka Doncic from scoring the basketball on a game-to-game basis. While Doncic gave Jones praise, over the seven career games they have faced off, Doncic is still averaging 27.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.6 assists against him.

Jones is the Pelicans' premier perimeter defender and is absolutely crucial to the team's defensive success alongside Trey Murphy III.

Wow, Herb Jones lives up to his defensive reputation and thensome. Toughest matchup difficulty in the ENTIRE NBA, yet he’s stealing people’s cookies, erasing passing lanes, and clamping ISOs

Video includes stops on: KD, Book, Brown, Luka, SGA, Bron, Harden, Ant, Hali, Dame, etc. pic.twitter.com/C9zs0AQzAF

— NBA University (@NBA_University) July 5, 2023

His ability to guard multiple positions using quick foot speed and a long wingspan makes him one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA.

Jones' 2024-2025 campaign was cut short due to a significant shoulder injury, and it was evident that his presence was missed on the Pelicans.

With a healthy Jones, Murphy III, Zion Williamson, and young core, the Pelicans can certainly still be a problem for opposing teams on a night-to-night basis.

The question remains: Will they be healthy enough to showcase it?

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