Luka Doncic has risen to the top of the basketball world not through elite athleticism, but with skill, vision, and basketball IQ. He’s averaged 21.2 points as a rookie and around 28–29 points per game every season since. The Don uses his craft to create shots and involve teammates. His understanding of spacing, timing, and pacing lets him dominate games without relying on speed or explosiveness.
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Despite not being the most athletic, Luka’s scoring, playmaking, and rebounding make him a perennial MVP contender. Moreso, he puts in the work. He spent the summer getting into shape and playing ball in Europe, preparing for his first full season as a member of the Lakers. People can criticize the Slovenian superstar, but he’s cemented his legacy his way. Grit and magic.
One person who used to identify as a Luka hater was Shaquille O’Neal. The Diesel brought this up on the latest edition of his Big Podcast while he was joined by fellow Hall of Famer Carmel Anthony. At one point, Shaq looked right at Melo for an answer to a question that has been plaguing him.
“I used to hate on Luka for the longest, and then I seen him play live. I know he’s really that good but how come people can’t stop him?” asked the Shaq Fu Master. “The game evolved,” answered Melo, which was not good enough for the Diesel.
“He’s not really fast, he don’t have a lot of lift, but he be busting everybody up. I’m like, ‘Bro block his shot.'” he joked. To understand the game is to understand what Luka does that is elite. He knows how to create separation using his size or gain space from his incredible ability to stop during a sprint. This has helped Doncic during fast breaks where he can just pull up and have a wide open look.
So while Shaq is now on the “Luka good” train, what he’s still missing are the things that made the Don great to begin with. What Shaq, and really anyone who’s ever doubted him, can’t fully grasp is that Luka’s greatness isn’t flashy or reliant on brute force. It’s in the subtle moves, the calculated pauses, the way he manipulates defenders with just a glance or a step.
That’s why, even in a league full of athletic phenoms, he continues to stand out and make Hall of Fame-level plays look routine. Luka’s legacy isn’t about overpowering opponents, it’s about outthinking them, and that’s what makes him truly unstoppable.
And so far it’s showing. The Lakers are 17-7 and one of the best teams in the West, only behind the dominant OKC Thunder. If the Purple and Gold hope to survive in the postseason, they’ll have to rely heavily on Doncic and rising star Austin Reaves to get it done.
