via Imago
Dec 17, 2020; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) in action during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Minnesota Timberwolves at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
via Imago
Dec 17, 2020; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) in action during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Minnesota Timberwolves at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Luka Doncic is easily the most exciting young star in the NBA right now. While you do have players like Trae Young, Ja Morant, and Zion Williamson as other high-potential young players, Luka is something else.
He was a top-five NBA MVP candidate in his sophomore season and he is the youngest player to be considered the odds-on-favorite to become MVP, with high projections this season.
He is living up to those expectations. Luka is averaging 26.1 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 9.5 assists to start the season. He just boosted this average with a 34 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists performance against the San Antonio Spurs.
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Legendary head coach Gregg Popovich was full of praise for the young Maverick after the rivalry game.
Gregg Popovich had high praise for Luka while talking with reporters before Mavs-Spurs:
"He is a quintessential basketball player. He has an intrinsic feel for the game. He was built for this game. Also he would probably be a great team handball player." pic.twitter.com/vqCvmj2Ds6
— Callie Caplan (@CallieCaplan) January 22, 2021
Any praise by Gregg Popovich is massive as he is one of the greatest coaches in the history of the NBA. His gushing over Luka and how he has been playing is very encouraging for the 21-year-old guard in just his third season. As Pop winds up his career, he has identified the flag-bearer of the NBA for the next generation.
Luka Doncic: What’s the ceiling for him?
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Luka Doncic is way too good to not become an MVP one day. While this season, he may lose out to centers like Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic, he still has a long career ahead of him.
Jokic, Embiid, and Doncic are the presumed favorites in the race right now, with LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Paul George also in the running.
USA Today via Reuters
Jan 22, 2021; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) dribbles past San Antonio Spurs guard Lonnie Walker IV (1) during the first half at the AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports
However, the ceiling for Luka’s Mavs is easily the championship. Luka’s skill-set makes everyone around him better, and if Dallas can put the right players around him, he is bound to dominate. However, they have already done a great job of it by pairing him with 7’3 big-man Kristaps Porzingis.
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Mavs have the perfect situation right now with cap flexibility, a potential superstar duo, and terrific coaching staff. Luka is the pearl, but the situation around him is going to determine whether this franchise reaches the summit of basketball once again.
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