Kidd’s High Praise for Luka Doncic
After a thrilling 131-129 victory over the Orlando Magic on Monday night, Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd had nothing but admiration for his star point guard Luka Doncic. Doncic has been sensational this season, especially after scoring 73 points against the Atlanta Hawks last week, the highest-scoring game in the NBA since Kobe Bryant’s 81-point masterpiece in 2006. He is widely considered one of the top five players in the league, a frequent MVP candidate, a regular All-Star, and the leader of the Mavericks’ resurgence since their championship run in 2011.
Kidd’s compliments are well-deserved, even though Doncic has not yet won any major awards – MVP or NBA title – in his career. But Kidd is not just praising Doncic, he is elevating him to a whole new level.
On Tuesday, Kidd appeared on 97.1 The Freak’s “The Downbeat” and claimed that Doncic has already surpassed the skill level of Hall of Famer and former teammate Dirk Nowitzki. Not only that, but Kidd also compared Doncic’s career path to that of Michael Jordan, Lebron James, and Bryant.
“I’ve said this before, and I’ll say this for as long as I’m here, you can’t take this young man for granted,” Kidd said of Doncic. “He’s better than Dirk, he’s in the atmosphere of MJ, the best to ever do it. LeBron [James], Kobe, and so just to appreciate what this young man is doing at the age of 24 is something that Dallas has never seen. And I’ve said this internally, he is better than Dirk. He does things that Dirk could never do.”
Doncic vs Nowitzki: A Fair Comparison?
Kidd’s statement that Luka Doncic is better than Nowitzki is not outrageous, but maybe a bit premature, considering the amazing career that Nowitzki had, which included leading the Mavericks to their only title, winning a league and Finals MVP, earning All-NBA and All-Star honors for most of his career, being selected to the NBA’s 75th-anniversary team and being inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023. Doncic’s NBA achievements are not as impressive as Nowitzki’s yet.
What makes him so different?
Luka Doncic’s passing, rebounding, and scoring abilities make him one of the most difficult players to defend in the league. He is a 6-foot-7 point guard, who can control the game with his crafty, slow-motion style, despite not being very athletic. He is a unique player in the NBA, something that we have not seen before. His 73-point performance was a perfect demonstration of how he can dominate any defense.
When Kidd was asked if he could back up his claim that Doncic is better than Nowitzki, given that he has never reached the NBA Finals, the Mavericks coach stood by his words.
“Yeah, MJ is the same way, MJ didn’t make it until his 30s,” Kidd said. “This young man is 24 and is breaking all the records that stand in front of him. He’s a winner, and his ultimate goal is to win a championship. He will get there, and not just win one, but he will win multiple when it’s all said and done.”
Doncic’s Record-Breaking Career
Luka Doncic’s Record-Breaking Career
Doncic has been shattering records since he entered the league five years ago, and he has often been compared to the legends that Kidd mentioned. The phrase “first since Jordan, LeBron, or Kobe” often appears next to his name with whatever feat he achieved. The only thing that prevents Luka Doncic from reaching their level is not winning MVPs or championships, and that depends, as Kidd said, on the Mavericks’ ability to provide him with enough talent to support him.
Doncic has carried the Mavericks on his back many times over the years, and he has produced some incredible offensive displays. He is the best Maverick ever, and he has the potential to become a legend.
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