Luka Dončić gave the Los Angeles Lakers 45 points against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday. His postgame comments addressed another part of his performance that he believes deserves more recognition.

After finishing with five steals, three charges drawn and 15 defensive rebounds in a 131-125 victory, Dončić said he has made progress defensively. The Lakers improved to 5-2, bouncing back from Friday’s loss to the Golden State Warriors with their leading scorer contributing throughout the game.

Dončić also recorded six assists, helping Los Angeles regain its footing after surrendering a 25-point lead in its previous outing. Against Toronto, his impact included taking away possessions and finishing defensive stops on the glass.

Dončić acknowledged that defense remains an area where he can improve while expressing confidence in the work he has done.

“Obviously, I’m not the best defender in the NBA, but I think this year, I really took a step forward,” Dončić said.

His assessment came after a performance that required several different defensive contributions. The steals reflected his ability to anticipate opportunities and disrupt Toronto’s offense. Drawing charges required establishing position and absorbing contact, while his rebounding helped prevent additional possessions.

Those plays matter for a Lakers team that already asks Dončić to shoulder substantial responsibility offensively. When he can contribute to stops himself, Los Angeles has another way to generate opportunities without relying entirely on its half-court execution.

Sunday also demonstrated why evaluating his defense requires looking beyond whether an opponent can attack him individually. Positioning, anticipation and rebounding all influence whether a team completes a successful defensive possession.

Dončić’s contributions offered a practical example of how the Lakers can get more from their defense without needing every possession to end with a blocked shot or a difficult contest.

A charge ends an opponent’s opportunity outright. A steal can create an opening before the defense gets organized. Securing a rebound allows Los Angeles to move into its offense rather than defend another shot.

Against Toronto, Dončić supplied all three.

His scoring remained essential, but those additional contributions gave the Lakers more ways to establish control. They also offered encouragement after a loss in which an explosive offensive start had failed to produce a victory.

The next step is sustaining that activity. One productive defensive performance provides evidence of what Dončić can contribute, while consistency will determine how much it changes the Lakers over a full season.

Los Angeles still has collective work ahead. Allowing 125 points in a victory leaves plenty for the team to examine, even with Dončić producing an exceptional individual performance.

For Dončić, however, Sunday supplied a clear response to questions about his defense. He helped the Lakers win through his scoring, his playmaking and a series of possessions in which Toronto never got a shot away.