Dallas Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic is facing a bit of flack for his ball-dominant play style. His team has dropped five of their last seven games, leading to familiar frustrations for all parties. However, once again, this is largely due to their persistently porous defense. Doncic, on the other hand, has been “rare as a Picasso” (h/t CNN’s Sam Joseph).
Luka Doncic ‘Rare as a Picasso’
Following Dallas’s six-point victory over a hot Miami Heat team on Mar. 7, Mavs head coach Jason Kidd would make those comments as he told reporters that “we can’t take that young man for granted.”
Doncic had just recorded his fourth consecutive 35-point triple-double, becoming the first player in NBA history to accomplish that feat. That win also marked the fifth straight game that he recorded a 30-point triple-double. Yet, what made his performance most impressive was his play down the stretch, as he nailed several tough shots to close the coffin in Miami.
Preeminent Talent
In all sports, scoring savants are the preeminent talents, and that’s no different for Doncic. Whether in his native Slovenia, back in Spain with Real Madrid, or in the plains of Texas where he currently resides, Doncic is one of the most naturally gifted scorers that has ever been seen. The comparison to Picasso is fitting because even when you know what you’re seeing, you don’t quite grasp the depths of his creativity and magnificence until a few moments later.
Like any player, Doncic has flaws. However, unlike the overwhelming majority of them, he’s a multifaceted offensive engine of creating masterpieces every time he steps out on the floor. To that point, the fact that Doncic is not only an extraordinary scorer but a high-IQ playmaker is what’s led to him being compared to James. Even LeBron James, a four-time MVP and the first player in NBA history to score 40,000 career points has placed Doncic among the game’s unstoppable players.
Who can blame him?
Despite his availability to play against an increasingly competitive Detroit Pistons squad being in doubt, Doncic managed to amass 39 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. Extending the record he set against the Heat, Doncic now has recorded a 35-point triple-double in five consecutive games. He also set an NBA record with six consecutive 30-point triple-doubles. Continuing to make strides defensively, Doncic also notched three steals and two blocks.
He’s an unprecedented talent.
Putting It Into Context
That Doncic has already scored 11,000-plus career points at 25 years old is fitting of his nickname, the ‘Wonder Boy.’
At this rate, he could tally 23,000 career points in fewer games than it took Hall of Fame forward Elgin Baylor. Should he desire to play that long, he could score 30,000 career points in fewer games than it took Wilt Chamberlain.
Such is the greatness of Doncic.
Many people never say never. But there truly may never be another. We really can’t take him for granted.
Eye on the Prize
For Dallas, keeping Doncic in a Mavs uniform for the rest of his career is the only thing that could match Dirk Nowitzki spending his entire career with the franchise. It could even be more important should Doncic achieve a greater amount of success with the franchise. To that end, just two years removed from a run to the Western Conference Finals, the Mavs are steadfast in their desire to win a championship.
Whether they manifest that dream is anyone’s guess. But there’s no doubt they recognize the rare talent that they have leading the way.
