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“Luka Doncic DOESN’T Impact The Game like Ja Morant”: ESPN’s Michael Wilbon Believes 6ft 2″ Grizzlies Star is Better Defensively

Arun Sharma
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"Luka Doncic DOESN'T impact the game like Ja Morant": Michael Wilbon, Commentator and Part of the NBA Countdown Believes Ja is Better Defensively

Luka Doncic vs. Ja Morant is the new LeBron James vs. Stephen Curry. Their characters are completely different, but the way analysts and fans pit them against each other is the same. The next-generation duo is only 25 years old, but they are currently ranked in the top ten in the league where LeBron, Steph, and Kevin Durant still play, Ja and Luka piped them to the top.

Like it or not, the new generation is here—and for a while. Even Giannis Antetokounmpo, who’s been in the league for ten years now, is only 28. The comparisons to the old guard will always be there, just like how Bron and Kobe get compared to Michael Jordan.

It feels weird not to have Bron-Steph-KD in the MVP race, but having Ja Morant over Luka Doncic seems a bit out of place. Ja has been great, no doubt, but are we disregarding Luka’s contributions because he hasn’t contributed to the defense? Come on, Michael Wilbon, do your research.

The Maverick from Dallas currently averages 1.9 steals per game and 0.6 blocks. In comparison, Ja only has 1.1 steals and 0.3 blocks. Even when the size advantage is removed, Luka has the highest defensive rating of any PG, yet he has no impact on defense, according to the presenter.

Also Read: Luka Doncic is Reminiscent of 2019 James Harden, as Mavericks Make Shot Selection History

Michael Wilbon is only here to create a storm – the NBA countdown needed TRP and he brought it

Lane Kiffin schooled him on his previous mishits with the football. This time around, he had Stephen A. Smith on his side. The perennial flip-flopper flipped again, listening to Wilbon’s take on Steph Curry.

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They all agreed that Jayson Tatum has been the best in the league this season. Leading his team to the best record in the league, Tatum has a point to prove. Losing out in the finals seems to have spurred him on.

Also Read: “Luka Doncic Never Complains”: Jason Kidd Reveals Slovenian Native’s Commonalities with LeBron James and Kobe Bryant

Luka Doncic is becoming severely underrated – nobody seems to be taking him seriously enough

Luka Doncic is leading the league in points and has improved his defense massively. The Slovenian has only played 25 games this season, but he is already halfway to matching his steals total from last year.

He’s also leading the league in total win shares, with 4.2. Most of them have come from his offensive efforts, but Jason Kidd’s team is thankful for his contributions on the defensive end.

Ja Morant has a much better team around him; last year, they had a better win percentage without him than with him. That doesn’t undermine his contributions; it only means that his team can survive without him.

Luka, on the other hand, does not. He’s been pouty about a couple of signings, or lack thereof, but he’s still doing his part.

Not an MVP candidate? You need to reconsider your thoughts, Michael Wilbon.

Also Read: “It’s All Luka Doncic, All the Time”: Charles Barkley Reveals Why Mavericks will Never Win a Championship

About the author

Arun Sharma

Arun Sharma

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Arun Sharma is an NBA Editor at The SportsRush. A double degree holder and a digital marketer by trade, Arun has always been a sports buff. He fell in love with the sport of basketball at a young age and has been a Lakers fan since 2006. What started as a Kobe Bryant obsession slowly turned into a lifelong connection with the purple and gold. Arun has been an ardent subscriber to the Mamba mentality and has shed tears for a celebrity death only once in his life. He believes January 26, 2020, was the turning point in the passage of time because Kobe was the glue holding things together. From just a Lakers bandwagoner to a basketball fanatic, Arun has spent 16 long years growing up along with the league. He thinks Stephen Curry has ruined basketball forever, and the mid-range game is a sight to behold. Sharma also has many opinions about football (not the American kind), F1, MotoGP, tennis, and cricket.

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