It only took five seasons for Luka Doncic to cement himself as one of the best players in Mavericks history and it’s been an amazing sight to behold. In the eyes of Shaquille O’Neal, if not for Dirk Nowitzki, he might already be considered the best Maverick of all time.
“Right now he’s the second-best in Dallas Mavericks history only because of the championship,” said O’Neal. “Now if he wins one then you could put him in that conversation with Dirk. He ain’t over here yet, he’s still in Dallas. He’s a great player but he’s in Dallas.”
“He’s the second best in Dallas Mavericks history only because of championships.”
-Shaq on Luka Doncic.
(@bigpodwithshaq | https://t.co/PTsCfNEEPB) pic.twitter.com/KBkPcru6nr
— Playmaker (@playmaker) March 29, 2024
Statistically, Luka Doncic is at a pace never seen before, and his performance in the first five years of his career has been enough to convince many that he’s the next face of the NBA. This season alone, he has climbed to second on the MVP ladder with averages of 33.9 points, 9.8 assists, and 9.1 rebounds per game on 48% shooting.
But even with as good as Luka has been, there is one thing that has eluded him thus far: an NBA championship. The furthest Doncic has ever gone is the Western Conference Finals back in 2022, when they lost to the Warriors in 5 games.
Dirk Nowitzki not only won a championship with the Mavericks, he won it in miraculous fashion against LeBron James and one of the best teams ever assembled. Dirk was a hero in the playoffs that year and almost single-handedly gave LeBron the worst series of his career.
Due to that championship and 20 years of history in Dallas, Dirk is probably the greatest ever for the franchise until someone is able to bring the Larry O’Brien trophy back to Texas. This season, while the odds are stacked against Luka and the Mavericks, nobody can count them out as long as their two stars are healthy.
Dallas Mavericks Are Darkhorse Contenders In The West
After Kyrie’s arrival last February, the Mavericks struggled to get a grip and proceeded to tank down the stretch of the season. With an iso-heavy offense and a non-existent defense, they had no chance to last four rounds and everyone knew it.
This time, however, things are different. Thanks to the stars and breakout performances from guys like Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II, the Mavericks have been feasting with a much-needed boost in the frontcourt and they look better than ever.
Winners of 9 in their last 10, the Mavericks have moved up to 6th in the West with a 43-29 record through 72 games. Finally above the play-in line, Dallas can rest easier with a guaranteed playoff spot this season and a likely first-round matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
While the path ahead is anything but easy, the Mavericks have proven to be quite formidable when healthy and the tandem with Irving and Luka has never looked better.
But until Doncic can do what Dirk did and bring a title to the city, he will always fall short of his potential as the greatest Maverick ever.
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