1. Luka will be an All-Time NBA Great
If someone said that a kid in his second NBA season would be one of the top four players in the entire league, you would have every right to scoff and laugh.
Ridiculous, right?
Enter Luka Doncic, the young Slovenian taking the basketball world by storm. The Mavericks guard is practically averaging a triple-double this season and has led Dallas from second-last in the West last season to the 5th seed in the West so far this year.
It truly is incredible how sharply the wonder-kid has grown in the space of two seasons, which begs the question: How good can he be?
Clearly it is a long, LONG way to go to qualify in the same company as the likes of Lebron and Jordan but to be a legitimate MVP candidate at just 20 years old is a fairly decent start. Doncic is currently averaging better points-per-game, rebounds, assists, and field goal percentage than Lebron in his 2nd year in the league which stacks up well for Luka.
The thing that really makes me think the Doncic could be an all-time great is some of the qualities he possesses and shows on a nightly basis.
Take a look at the last quarter in his game against the Rockets just last week. When the game was cut to five points in the last quarter, Doncic turned the game on its head and posted 13 points to lead the Mavericks on a 25-8 run that iced the game for Dallas.
Those kinds of clutch, late-game reliable qualities are the ones that build a superstar’s legacy. LeBon is mostly going to be remembered for his clutch plays in big playoff moments and his unbelievable ability to sink the game-winning shot. Likewise, Jordan is remembered well for his ability to turn a game on its head in big situations with hot scoring streaks.
At 12-6, Luka has helped power the Mavericks to big wins over teams like Denver, Houston, and Toronto to prove that they may really be the real deal this year.
Last season’s Rookie of the Year boasts a 30.8/9.9/9.6 statistic average which ranks him in the Top 15 in each category across the NBA.
All this and Luka is only 20 years old in his second NBA season.
Imagine the heights he could reach if he manages to stay healthy and play a decent 10-15-year career in the NBA. That is a pretty scary thought for the rest of the league, especially if he somehow continues to develop and improve.
So that is my grand prediction: Luka will be an all-time great by the time he calls it quits from the NBA after a glittering career that ranks right up there with the best to ever play the game.