Luka Doncic is one of the most gifted players in the modern NBA and he has been proving that ever since his rookie season. He easily won Rookie of the Year in 2019 before jumping into the NBA MVP conversation as a sophomore, joining the All-NBA First Team as a second-year player. Doncic hasn’t left the All-NBA First-Team since and is continuing to get better.
Jalen Brunson got a chance to not only watch Luka operate on a nightly basis but play as the secondary guard on the team with Doncic. While that did limit the impact Brunson could have on the game and could have played a part in his decision to leave the Mavericks for New York, Jalen always understood he can’t ask for a bigger role when Luka is on the team.
The pair were drafted together in 2018 and became great friends as teammates. Watching Brunson leave Luka is tough but JB still has the utmost respect for Doncic’s game, calling him a first-ballot Hall of Famer. He did so while talking to USA Today about playing with Doncic on the Mavs.
Jalen Brunson Says Luka Doncic Is A First-Ballot Hall Of Famer
“It wasn’t really difficult because you knew what it was. Luka is such a great talent that he can do anything on the court, whether he wants to do it or not. I think for me, I kinda figured out how to play with him. He’s so dominant, he knows how to play the game, and he knows how to help his team win. Having a guy like that, things are rarely going to change around him. So, you’re gonna have to adapt… I truly loved playing with him because we were in a position to win every night because of him. For me, I learned how to play off of him. We’re great friends so that’s obviously a plus too. He’s special. I’ve said this numerous times and I’ll continue to speak it into existence, that dude is a first-ballot Hall of Famer.”
Luka’s case to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer is building up very nicely. Many people argue that Doncic could retire now and still have a chance of making the Hall of Fame because of his achievements in Europe and for Slovenia. While he hasn’t won any of the major NBA accolades, he has proven his worth on the court.
Brunson will keep supporting his friend and his former team as they look to repeat their success in the Western Conference this season without him. Brunson will hope to be the pivotal piece behind the Knicks becoming a playoff team again, so both players have massive seasons ahead of them.
