Luka Doncic Can't Stop Doing Shit The NBA Hasn't Seen Since Oscar Robertson
It's not exactly a hot take to say Luka Doncic has been nothing short of spectacular to start his NBA career, but with the Celts playing DAL tonight I wanted to take some time and really dive into what we're seeing with Year 2 Luka. After putting up 21.2/7.8/6.0as a 19 year old rookie which put his first year in the NBA in the same class as these legends who averaged at least those numbers in Year 1:
Oscar Robertson
That's it. That's the list. Only 1 player in the history of the NBA put up a rookie season with at least the same numbers as what Luka did in Year 1 as a 19 year old. It was one of the best rookie seasons we've ever seen
A year like that had everyone who loves the NBA foaming at the mouth for Year 2 Luka. Imagine what he would look like now that he's familiar with NBA basketball? You pair him with a healthy Porzingis and the sky was the limit. So far? It's been just as awesome as we could have hoped. His averages of 27.7/10.8/9.1 are impressive, and if you look back in NBA history guess how many players have had those averages as a 20 year old?
Zero. None. Not one. It's Luka and that's it.
If you change this to the second season and not just the age since guys get drafted at different times, this is the list:
Oscar Robertson
Luka Doncic
So just to rehash. As a 19 year old rookie no other 19 year old in the history of the NBA did what Luka did in Year 1, and if you expand it to any age then only Oscar Robertson did it. Then in Year 2 no other player in NBA history has done what Luka is doing at age 20, and if you expand to any age then only Oscar Robertson did it. That's pretty fucking crazy when you think of ALL the dominant players we've seen since 1961. Year 2 Luka is a different beast, and if you haven't watched him this season you're missing out
You get the idea. It's been ridiculous and if you're like me and are more a visual learner the tape is just as impressive
It's nearly impossible to find an area on the floor where Luka struggles. He's shooting 68% from 0-3 feet, 51% from 3-10ft, 66% from 10-16ft, 50% from 16-3P, and 32% from three. I guess you could say his outside shooting is a weakness but he's making 2.8 a game and has one of the deadliest stepbacks in the entire league so that's not really true. He's seen his efficiency actually improve despite the increase in usage from 30% to now 33% which isn't always the case. Normally you see guys suffer when they end up taking more shots, but not Luka.
Not only that, his defense is looking much better as well. His rating is down to 106 from 109 so far and he has a slight increase in his DBPM. I'd say the Mavs decision to make Luka the full time point guard for this team, something that is new this year compared to how they used him last season is working out no matter how you want to look at it. It makes you think that the Young/Luka trade is going to go down in history where both sides actually came out OK. Even with Luka being one of the best and most accomplished Euro players ever I don't think anyone expected THIS.
He's more than backed up what was a historic rookie season and we aren't even 10 games in, and you factor in he can't even buy a beer yet and that's a pretty terrifying thought. This is basically the worst Luka will ever be and he's already tearing up the NBA in ways not seen in the last 50+ years.
P.S.
Can't have a Luka blog without Mama Luka. Elite genes producing elite NBA players who woulda thought