Luka Doncic is the name on everyone’s lips this season. The Dallas Mavericks star has not only got fans out of their seats; he’s got professional NBA peers and rivals scratching their heads. The way he’s stepped up his game this season, you’d think he’s nearing 30.
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The Slovenian is younger than Jayson Tatum by a year, and yet he plays like he’s been in this circle for about 10 years. Real Madrid does that to you, and Luka has been just awe-inspiring. Fred VanVleet, the Raptors’ miracle man and star point guard, has his say on the matter.
To him, matching up against Luka is difficult—the sheer size difference makes it a giant mismatch. He needs someone else along with himself to double on Luka, a point that he vehemently points out. On the “Old Man and the Three” podcast, he admits that not doubling Luka meant a 50-point game.
This season, Doncic has more 30-point games than 20-point games. He’s got only one game below 20 and 31 games above 30 points. Doncic, a 5th-year player in the league, is outclassing players like Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and Joel Embiid regularly.
It’s not that Doncic is the fastest guy on the court. Nor is he the most athletic. He’s just so elite at his fundamentals that he can close his eyes and hit a jump shot.
Fred VanVleet and the Toronto Raptors came up against Dallas twice – they drew the season’s match up 1-1
In a classic east vs. west series, Toronto and Dallas played out their series very early in the season. In the first game of the series, Dallas managed to eke out a single-point victory. Luka was at his effective best, scoring 35 points on a 66.7% shooting percentage. He also hit 3 of 6 3-point attempts, making it a great shooting night.
That game did not feature VanVleet, but the second game did. This time. The Toronto Raptors had a game plan in mind. They blitzed Luka 15 times in the game, making him drop and become more of a catch-and-shoot guy. This tactic change saw the victory go to the Raptors, something FVV is proud of.
How good has Luka Doncic been this season?
The Dallas Mavericks star is MVP material. Take him out of the team, and supporting players like Spencer Dinwiddie and Christian Wood may find it hard to shoulder his burden. Luka Magic has had magical moments that have elevated his superstar status.
Starting the season with nine straight 30-point games, he also saw a scoring run that matched Kobe Bryant. Multiple 50-point triple-double games seemed like child’s play to him. In the latest game against the Los Angeles Lakers, he proved he’s a clutch player too.
Despite not scoring for nearly the entire fourth quarter, all Luka had to do was ignore his injury concerns and hit three game-tying 3-pointers. He’s involving his teammates, as well as being born with the mental fortitude to take control of the reins. Luka Doncic is a real cowboy.
