Zion Williamson or Luka Doncic: Who’s the Better Franchise Player?
The Case for Luka Doncic
In just his second year in the league, Doncic is doing things we’ve rarely, if ever seen. He’s a triple-double machine who averages 28.7 points, 9.3 rebounds and 8.7 assists, numbers that are even more insane when you consider he’s just 20 years old.
The Dallas Mavericks (40-27) were the 7th seed in the Western Conference with a good chance to climb higher, as Doncic was playing at a high level and bringing his team along with him.
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There is really no argument that Doncic is currently the best young player in the NBA.
Here’s his case as the best franchise player.
Luka Plays one of the Most Important Positions
In the current NBA, point guards and wings are the two most important positions and Doncic is one of the few who can play both.
In today’s era of ball movement and space, teams need players who can break down defenses and facilitate open long-range shots for their teammates.
Doncic does both as well as anyone in the NBA, as he can finish down low in traffic where he shoots 69.3 percent on shots within five feet and his 44.8 assist percentage is second only to LeBron James in the NBA.
Doncic is the perfect point guard for the modern game as he can score and get his teammates open shots.
Luka is a Unicorn
At 6-foot-7 218 lbs. Doncic is one of the biggest guards in the league and there are few players with his combination of size and skill.
His size creates mismatches all over the floor and forces teams to use their best wing to guard him. Most players are either too slow or too small to defend him.
Put a point guard on Doncic and he posts up, put a small forward on him and he penetrates while your shooting guard is left defending a wing.
Ask the New Orleans Pelicans, who had no answer for Luka’s size in a recent overtime loss:
Doncic’s size gives him defensive versatility that few players have, as he can match up with both guards and forwards without giving anything away.
His rebounding allows the Mavs to not rely on traditional bigs to get boards.
This makes Doncic very easy to build around, as he can play just about anywhere on the floor, so the Dallas Mavericks will never have to draft for need, as just about anyone can fit with Luka.
Luka’s Intangibles
Aside from the eye-popping numbers, Doncic has intangibles that set him apart from other young players.
He’s one of those guys who makes everyone on the team better. He not only leads the team in scoring but keeps everyone involved and is a vocal on-the-floor leader.
Luka is also not afraid of the moment and wants to be the guy who takes a big shot. Though he only shoots 31.8 percent from 3-point range, he always seems to knock one down at a crucial moment in the game and usually with a high degree of difficulty.
As Luka’s long-range shot continues to improve, he is going to make even more of those shots, but he already has the competitive edge and killer instinct.
He’ll be a popular and successful player for years to come and the Mavs will be in contention as long as he is healthy. You can’t ask for much more from a 20-year-old player.