Luka Doncic has established himself as a viable candidate for the ‘best player in the world’ conversation in his four years in the NBA. Even though most critics have been averse to anointing a very young Doncic as the best in the league so early in his career, after the Mavericks’ blowout game 7 victory over the Suns many are reconsidering their arguments.
Doncic almost single-handedly took a bottom-tier Dallas Mavericks team to their first playoffs in years in his second year in the league. Moreover, he has put up stellar performances in every playoff series he has played so far, averaging a staggering 32.7 points, 8.3 assists, and 9.3 boards in 23 games.
These historic numbers have put him alongside Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Wilt Chamberlain in their early years. But some critics are still reluctant to attach labels to Luka’s name because he has only won two playoff series so far in his career.
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Giannis Antetokounmpo is still the best player in the world
Sports analyst Nick Wright had called Doncic one of the best playoff performers ever on the show “First Things First” on FS1 after the Mavs defeated the Jazz in the first round. His chief adversary on the show, Chris Broussard, vehemently disagreed. The sample size was too small for him.
Notably, Broussard picked the Suns to get past the Mavericks in four or five games. On the other hand, Wright picked the Mavs to win.
After the Mavs absolutely vanquished the Suns at their home, Broussard was a little subdued in his approach. But he still refused to accept Doncic as the best player in the world after the 23-year-old put on a show with 35 points and 10 rebounds in just three-quarters.
When asked by the host “Can Luka be crowned best player on earth?”, Broussard said, “Yes, he can. And what he has to do is obviously a big chore. Win the championship. Nothing less will suffice.”
Broussard emphasized the fact that Luka is still a liability on the defensive end. And Giannis is a former DPOY. His lockdown defense was a major factor in Bucks’ championship victory last year.
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That’s why Giannis is still the best player in the world in Broussard’s opinion.
Luka Doncic as a potential NBA champion
Broussard pointed out that Doncic is the sole scorer, playmaker, floor-general, and high-volume shooter in the Mavericks’ roster. Teams with similar structures, like the Rockets with James Harden, struggle to win championships.
An unforgettable moment. #dALLasIN pic.twitter.com/JA749TIEvU
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) May 16, 2022
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“You can’t win that way in the modern-day NBA“, he added.
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However, Broussard admitted that if Doncic wins this year without a second star in the team, he will concede his position. And accept ‘Luka Legend’ as the best player in basketball.
The Mavericks will play the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference finals.