Mavericks Coach Compares Luka Doncic to the Likes of Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James

Luka Doncic is one of the most gifted players to enter the NBA in recent memory. The Slovenian has been lighting up the NBA ever since he stepped foot into the league with the Dallas Mavericks. Many people have prophesized that Doncic will become the new face of the NBA. And given his upward trajectory over the past few seasons, that could very well be the reality.

Doncic: Ahead of the curve

Mavericks’ head coach Rick Carlisle gave an interview recently where he praised Luka Doncic immensely. He detailed a story about a practice drill where the Mavericks players were told to make five passes before taking a shot. Doncic found an ingenious way around the instructions in order to take the shot for himself.

Luka Doncic similar to MJ, Bron, and Kobe, says Carlisle

Carlisle added that Doncic’s innovation is unlike anyone he has ever seen. He compared Doncic to Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James. He believes that Doncic has shown the kind of growth to one day be at their level, and his skills have improved greatly after every game and every practice session.

The coach said, “This is what great players and some of the savant thinkers that we’ve seen in the history of this game (do). You’re talking about guys like Bird, Magic, Jordan were very similar. LeBron James, I’m sure Kobe Bryant was a lot like this too. But as time moves along, the level of growth is really there in all areas from skill refinement to leadership on the floor in games and in practice.”

Clearly, Rick Carlisle has a lot of faith in Luka Doncic. Doncic has become the franchise player for the Dallas Mavericks just two years after he entered the NBA. For Luka, his ceiling can only be determined by him and his ambition. If Luka wants to be one of the best to ever play the game, he will do just that.

Can Luka Doncic match or even surpass these NBA legends? Only time will tell, but Luka looks as good a choice as any, to lead the NBA into the next generation.