Jason Kidd's bold test will force Luka Doncic to prove himself

The 2024-25 season is exactly three weeks for the Dallas Mavericks, and they are poised to be elite contenders in the Western Conference once again.

Dallas had an excellent offseason, as they added Klay Thompson, Quentin Grimes, Naji Marshall, and Spencer Dinwiddie, and their shooting and defense should take major steps in the right direction. The Mavs' defense was already outstanding down the stretch at the end of the season, and the additions of Grimes and Marshall specifically will turn them into a scary defensive unit.

While their defense off the bench will be strong with Grimes, Marshall, and Daniel Gafford (assuming Doncic, Irving, Thompson, Washington, and Lively II start), their defense in the starting lineup will be tested.

Some people already believe that Marshall needs to start over Klay Thompson, and the Mavs' point-of-attack defense in that starting unit is going to be tested right away.

Jason Kidd challenges Luka Doncic to step it up on defense

Jason Kidd knows that the Mavs' defense is at its best when everyone is locked in and giving their all, but he also knows that Luka Doncic is going to have to hold his own on that end.

When asked who in the starting unit will guard down and guard some of the quicker players, Kidd responded with "Luka."

While this caused a chuckle in the press conference room at Media Day, Kidd iterated that there is a level of sincerity to what he said. The Mavs are going to need Doncic to be able to defend well in space next season to get where they want to go, and he is more than capable of tackling this test head-on. He showed major strides as a defender for most of last season, and him improving on that end will help him silence the narrative from the NBA Finals that he's an awful defender.

While Doncic wasn't at his best defensively in that series, he was hobbled with injuries and his defensive struggles were seriously exaggerated by the national media. Anyone who watched the Mavs all season last season knew that Doncic improved on defense, and Kidd calling upon him to start to take tougher defensive assignments is a great test for him.

Doncic is already exerting so much energy on the offensive end, and he is going to have to transfer some of that energy to the defensive end. If the starting lineup ends up being Doncic, Irving, Thompson, P.J. Washington, and Dereck Lively II, everyone in that unit is going to have to sit down and guard, including Doncic.

Kidd seems to believe that Doncic is ready for that challenge of guarding quicker players and taking pride on that end, and he doesn't think Doncic will shy away from that either. Doncic reversing the narrative of his defense could be key in him gaining more respect in MVP conversations, and him remaining healthy will be crucial in him remaining competitive on that end.

No one expects Doncic to be Dallas' defensive stopper, but it's imperative that he makes a positive impact on that end and shows everyone that he can guard down when Kidd needs him to.