Care to guess the one guy looking to squash those LeBron-Luka comparisons? Yup, Luka.
Luka Doncic laughs it off. All of it.
All those comparisons to the NBA’s greatest legends, from Oscar Robertson to Michael Jordan to LeBron James.
It’s probably the appropriate tact to take for the Dallas Mavericks’ second-year superstar guard.
He turns 21 next month but has accomplished what some of the best players in the history of the league never did.
That includes James, who is considered one of the game’s top two or three players of all-time by most rational analysis. Doncic’s accomplishments at such a young age are why some of those legends, including James, have heaped such praise on him.
For example, in the history of the NBA, there have been six triple-doubles with at least 38 points by a player under 21. James has one of them. The other five? Luka. And Luka’s sophomore stat line of 29.6 points per game, 9.7 rebounds per game and 9.0 assists per game is actually better than LeBron’s second-year stat line of 27.2, 7.4 and 7.2.
James and the Los Angeles Lakers bring their 30-7 Western Conference-leading record into American Airlines Center for an ESPN-televised game at 8:45 p.m. Friday.
“He’s one of the greatest players ever,” said Doncic, who grew up idolizing James. “I’m nowhere near that. I’m 20 years old. This is my second year in the league. Anything can happen, so I have to prove a lot.”
That’s, of course, true, especially when it comes to winning championships. But for just raw basketball talent? The comparisons keep coming.
“He is a baby LeBron minus the hops, right?” former NBA center Kendrick Perkins told ESPN. “I’m just talking overall, I would love to play with Luka. He is a winner, his basketball IQ is through the roof and, listen, the sky is the limit for this kid.”
Former NBA coach Mark Jackson called Doncic a combination of Hall of Famers Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Even the uber-competitive Michael Jordan has marveled at Doncic’s quick ascent to superstardom.
“Luka is a phenomenal player at such a young age,” Jordan said in a statement when it was announced Doncic was signed to his Air Jordan shoe line. “He’s demonstrating skill that takes guys years to develop. It will be incredible to watch him continue to advance in the league.”
ESPN’s Max Kellerman on “First Take” called Doncic the best 20-year-old in NBA history.
That is probably an easier argument to make. In fact, the numbers make it pretty clear.
Through his first 100 games, only Oscar Robertson put up similar numbers to Doncic, who has eclipsed 2,000 points, 750 rebounds and 500 assists.
‘Magic Johnson-like’
“I hate to say this,’‘ Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said after losing to the Mavs in December. “He’s not Magic Johnson, but it’s Magic Johnson-like in the sense that he sees the floor in that same way. He’s got a real intuitive sense and you can’t teach that. He’s just got it and he’s great at it.”
NBA legend Jerry West — you know, the guy the league’s logo is based on? — told the Dallas Morning News that Doncic will be better than Dirk Nowitzki.
“Everyone wishes they had a 20-year-old who plays like him, and he hasn’t even scratched the surface,’‘ West said. “It’s fun to watch genius. There’s a difference between All-Stars and superstars. A superstar is different, and that’s what he is.”
West credits Doncic for nearly single-handedly turning the Mavs into a Western Conference contender. At 23-14, Dallas is currently the sixth seed, and currently in contention for a playoff berth for the first time since 2016.
Jordan’s former teammate Scottie Pippen, who won six championships with the Chicago Bulls, told ESPN that Doncic makes Dallas a contender this season.
Former Mavs guard Steve Nash sees similarities between Doncic and James, even if the NBA has changed since James entered the league in 2003.
“The numbers are a little inflated because of the pace and the hand check,” Nash told the International Business Times. “But still, I do think LeBron was so gifted, but I don’t think he was as polished as Luka at 20. Luka’s never going to be the athlete that LeBron is, but he’s a great athlete. He’s an underrated athlete.”
This story was originally published January 10, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
