We recently heard Tony Parker give your opinion on the “legend” status that certain European players of his generation were able to obtain following their career in the NBA, such as Dirk Nowitzki Or Pau Gasol. For the Frenchman, four-time NBA champion, a player cannot claim this status without having won at least one title.
Jason Kidd has a different opinion from that of TP, regarding Luka Doncic. For the former iconic point guard of the 2000s, the Slovenian may not have won a title yet, but he is already one of the greatest to have played in the NBA, alongside Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant.
The question was originally about which player he saw as the best in Mavericks history. Dirk Nowitzki or Luka Doncic? Having played and won a title with the first, and having coached the second for more than three years, Jason Kidd seems rather well placed to judge. And according to him, there is no debate!
“He (Luka Doncic) is better than Dirk. He is like Michael Jordan, the best player of all time, LeBron, Kobe. This is why we must appreciate what this young man is doing at the age of 24. This is something Dallas has never seen. I said it internally: he is better than Dirk. He's doing things that Dirk never could, and now he has the opportunity to surround himself with the right people to finally win a title.”, he blurted out on the radio show “The Downbeat”.
Luka Doncic's crazy series, marked by a peak of 73 points in Atlanta last week, then his last outing with 45 points and 15 assists against Orlando undoubtedly reinforced his choice to make his point of view public. In three games played in four nights, the Slovenian still averaged 48.7 points and 13 assists, generating 79.7 points in the series. According to ESPN, only the essential Wilt Chamberlain managed to do better over a series of three games. It was in 1962.
For Jason Kidd, no need to wait to give him the status of best player in Mavs history.
“This young man is 24 years old, he is breaking all the records that come before him. He is a winner and his ultimate goal is to win a title. He'll get there and won't just win one, he'll win several when he's done with basketball.”concluded the Dallas coach, before putting away the shine brush.
| Luka Doncic | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2018-19 | DAL | 72 | 32 | 42.7 | 32.7 | 71.3 | 1.2 | 6.6 | 7.8 | 6.0 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 21.2 |
| 2019-20 | DAL | 61 | 34 | 46.3 | 31.6 | 75.8 | 1.3 | 8.1 | 9.4 | 8.8 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 4.3 | 0.2 | 28.8 |
| 2020-21 | DAL | 66 | 34 | 47.9 | 35.0 | 73.0 | 0.8 | 7.2 | 8.0 | 8.6 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 4.3 | 0.6 | 27.7 |
| 2021-22 | DAL | 65 | 35 | 45.7 | 35.3 | 74.4 | 0.9 | 8.3 | 9.1 | 8.7 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 4.5 | 0.6 | 28.4 |
| 2022-23 | DAL | 66 | 36 | 49.6 | 34.2 | 74.2 | 0.8 | 7.8 | 8.6 | 8.0 | 2.5 | 1.4 | 3.6 | 0.5 | 32.4 |
| 2023-24 | DAL | 40 | 38 | 48.9 | 37.5 | 78.0 | 0.8 | 7.8 | 8.6 | 9.6 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 3.9 | 0.6 | 34.7 |
| Total | 370 | 35 | 46.9 | 34.3 | 74.4 | 1.0 | 7.6 | 8.6 | 8.1 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 4.0 | 0.5 | 28.4 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
