Written by Joseph Arthur (joe_arthur2010)
Last season, Luka Doncic averaged 23ppg, 8reb and 6ast as a rookie. He won Rookie of the Year and sent the NBA world into a frenzy with his step-back threes, circus shots and crazy passes.
“If he (Doncic) never improves 1%, he’s a Hall of Famer,” said NBA analyst Nick Wright on First Things First.
Well, 17 games into his sophomore year, Luka has certainly improved. With early season averages of 30ppg, 10reb and 9ast on improved shooting from the field, the young Maverick looks like a generational talent.
Although it’s impossible to lock-in a second-year player as a sure-fire Hall of Famer, from a more short term perspective, Doncic is starting to beg the question; is he a top 10 NBA player already?
A question that may have seemed far-fetched prior to the season is starting to become easier to argue. You’ve got a 20-year-old almost averaging a triple double and leading his team to an 11-6 record in the WEST!
And apologies to Russell Westbrook, but Luka’s stats are as real and ‘padding-free’ as they come. He consistently makes good decisions on offense with his passing and his teammates should all be thanking him for making them better. Luka’s vision when driving perfectly complements Rick Carlisle's five-out offence and basically every Maverick getting significant minutes has become a capable 3-point threat.
So Luka makes his teammates better by hitting them on open looks and starting good offensive sets, but what about his own scoring?
Well, he recently enjoyed a four-game stretch of 30+ points, including two 40+ point nights and a 22-point quarter against the G-League Warriors. So it’s fair to say he can put the ball in the basket.
But perhaps the most intriguing part of Luka’s game and what truly makes him great is his rebounding. Unlike some other high volume rebounding guards, Doncic earns all of his rebounds. He boxes out, gets into the right position and hustles his behind off to collect them. The importance of these Luka rebounds comes down to one thing – early offence.
The Dallas Mavericks turn it over a league low 9.2% on transition plays (per stats.NBA.com) and this is mostly due to Luka running the transition more than any other Maverick. But it isn’t all about getting out in transition; by collecting the rebound, Doncic can get the Mavs into their offensive sets almost immediately. The benefit is the Mavericks can get to their spots and find the shots they want earlier in the clock, and it all starts – and often finishes – with Luka.
Luka Doncic is very good, that has been established. But is he a top 10 guy in the NBA? Well, let’s figure it out.
There are a few players who sit objectively in the top 10; LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Giannis Antetokounmpo, James Harden, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant are impossible to argue against. However, that’s only six, so who makes up the final four?
Jokic? Probably. Davis and Embiid? Fine. But Paul George, Damian Lillard, Kyrie Irving or even Pascal Siakam? I’m not so sure.
Of all those guys above, Luka is surrounded with the least amount of talent except for perhaps Lillard. And yet the Mavs have won almost twice as many games as the Blazers and Luka is averaging more points (Paul George aside due to sample size) and assists than anyone on the possible final four list.
He’s as legitimate a star as anybody else in the league and although it’s a small sample size, he’s currently playing at a historically high level. And not just for a 20-year-old, but for any NBA player, because that’s what he is – not a kid – an NBA player.
With all that in mind, it’s become very clear nobody can argue that Luka Doncic isn’t on his way to being a top ten NBA player and personally, I think he is already there. Beyond that, he is currently a genuine 2019-20 MVP candidate and the Mavericks are a very good chance to earn a postseason berth.
In his short time in the NBA, the young Slovenian is redefining the league and showcasing a level of talent we haven’t seen in a 20-year-old since LeBron. He is the best European to join the league since Dirk and it’s only fitting he’s landed in Dallas.
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