Luka Doncic is having such a phenomenal sophomore campaign for the Dallas Mavericks, rave reviews and compliments about his game seem almost pedestrian barely halfway to the season. But on Friday night, the Mavs point guard received not only a token positive quote but an entire article's worth of praise from none other than an NBA Hall of Famer, the “Logo” himself Jerry West.
Speaking to Jerry Sherrington of the Dallas Morning News, the Los Angeles Clippers executive shot down comparisons to NBA legend Oscar Robertson but in an unexpected way, citing that Doncic's limitless range actually puts him ahead.
“I would say no,” says West, who knows as well as anyone. “I bet Oscar never took a shot over 17, 19 feet. In that era, 17 feet was a long shot.”
West also brought up how Luka Doncic's instincts are reminiscent of Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James and the conversation naturally gravitated higher up the totem pole involving all-time greats Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant. But West stopped short of saying he's on that level just yet, although it's not out of the realm of possibility.
“I think that’s a reach now,” West says. “He could certainly be in the top five.
“Ask me that question in two years and we’ll see.”
Doncic opened 2019-20 on a tear for the Mavs, racking up triple-doubles on a semi-regular basis en route to almost averaging a 30-point triple-double at one point before slowing down a bit (by his standards) at 29.1 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 8.9 assists on 47.2-percent shooting after succumbing to an ankle injury.
The Mavs are currently sporting a 22-12 record, good for 5th in the West albeit on a virtual tie with the Utah Jazz. Doncic and the team hope to continue their winning ways against the Charlotte Hornets without the injured Kristaps Porzingis and Tim Hardaway Jr. and try to narrow the gap with the higher-seeded teams.
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