There is no doubt that Luka Doncic has proved his prowess since setting foot in the NBA. His explosiveness, skill, vision, and basketball IQ make him one of the best generational talents of all time. In his rookie season, Doncic averaged 21.2 points and has averaged around 29 points every season since. Of course, all of this makes him an extremely likable player, with fans and veterans alike vouching for the Slovenian.
We all know Shaquille O’Neal’s eye for recognizing real talent. He never fails to give generational stars their flowers while being one of the greatest players himself. However, on a recent episode of his “The Big Podcast,” the Big Aristotle admitted that he used to ‘hate’ Luka Doncic. Joined by Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony, Shaq revealed this bit while asking a plaguing question to Melo.
“I used to hate on Luka for the longest, and then I seen him play live. I know he’s really good but how come people can’t stop him?” Shaq asked. (1:34)
“The game evolved,” Melo replied, not quite to Shaq’s satisfaction, who then joked:
“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!'”
Melo tried to highlight one of the fundamental factors that separates Doncic from his counterparts. The Slovenian efficiently creates separation using his size or by gaining space, which allows him to stop during a sprint. This has helped him tremendously during fast breaks, when he can just pull up and have wide-open looks.
Luka Doncic isn’t one of the most athletic players out there in the league. However, Shaq opined that Doncic’s style of play isn’t great because it lacks flashiness and brute force. Doncic can use subtle moves to implement his game IQ, which can leave defenders guessing only with one glance or step.
This season, Doncic is averaging 34.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 8.9 assists per game with the Lakers. He has been consistent as a triple-double threat and has registered his name as one of the top contenders in the MVP conversations.
Can Luka Doncic Win The MVP Award This Season?
Once again, three names are appearing as regular contenders from MVP, just like last season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, and Luka Doncic have proven themselves to be generational talents. While SGA can average 30+ points despite sitting out the fourth quarter, and Jokic averages high triple-double numbers, there is a need to have a conversation around why Luka Doncic could win this season.
Doncic was the centrepiece of one of the wildest trades in the league last season. But now that he is playing his first full season with the Lakers, it seems clear who is going to take the torch from LeBron James for this franchise. Doncic is leading the league in scoring, producing a close 35-9-9 line, which is clear enough to rest his case.
But then again, he is not perfect. Doncic still struggles on the defensive end. However, offensively, he can punish switches in the post, hit deep triples off the dribble, snake pick-and-rolls, and create late-clock shots out of nothing. He has advanced his shot profile, doing so while integrating with his new teammates and adjusting to James’ seeping into a connector role.
The path seems quite clear for Luka if he continues to keep the Lakers at the top of the Western Conference. Maybe then, he could bag the first MVP award of his career.
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