Luka Doncic has arrived on the biggest stage in the world of basketball, the NBA Playoffs. While he had monstrous performances against the LA Clippers in his first two playoff runs, his first-round elimination cast serious doubts over his numbers. But after his masterful performances to help the Mavericks beat the league-leading Phoenix Suns in Game 7, a lot of people are getting on board the bandwagon.
It was a widely-believed opinion that the Suns were a better team than the Mavericks, but the Mavericks had the best player in the series. That argument is a little harder to make now, as the Mavs go up against Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors. GSW has the better team, but is Doncic the better player compared to Curry?
Former Maverick JJ Redick believes so and explained his position to Stephen A. Smith and Patrick Beverley on ESPN.
“We’re talking about right now, 2022. Who would you rather have with the ball, with the game on the line? It’s clearly Luka Doncic.” 😳
JJ Redick is taking Luka over Steph Curry with the game on the line. Do you agree? https://t.co/5DDycZhiY0
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) May 17, 2022
We’re talking about right now, 2022. Who would you rather have with the ball, with the game on the line? It’s clearly Luka Doncic. Think about all the stuff that you have to do, all the people you have to involve to get Steph Curry a shot at the end of the game. Think about all the action you have to run. You know what you have to do with Luka? Give him the ball, he’s gonna create a good shot. Size matters at the end of the game.”
Redick makes some good points about Doncic’s overall importance to the way the Mavericks function, but Curry is a three-time champion and a two-time MVP. Even if he is older, he is still one of the most lethal offensive threats any team could have on the floor.
Even if he is having a cold night, Curry can come back into shooting form within seconds and punish teams in the fourth quarter. However, Doncic is the one engaging every single play for the Mavericks down the stretch. Their importance can be debated, but it will be proved when they face off in the Western Conference Finals.
