"He knows the science of getting 30; The last player we saw that could do that was LeBron" - Former NBA player overtly impressed with Luka Doncic
Dallas Mavericks superstar guard Luka Doncic has been on fire to start the 2022-2023 NBA season.
Through nine games, Doncic is averaging a league-leading 36.0 points to go along with 8.4 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.9 steals per game. This has impressed many former NBA players, including Eddie Johnson, who recently raved about Doncic’s advanced scoring ability for his age.
During a recent appearance on SiriusXM NBA Radio, Johnson explained that there is a science behind scoring 30 points consistently that few players have mastered.
“Now it’s not many players in the history of the NBA that had the science to know how to go get 30. A lot of guys have been able to get 20. But 30? No,” Johnson said.
Johnson then added that Doncic is one of the few players who has figured out the science.
“He is one of a few. And at this tender age (23) that he has figured the science out of how to go get it, is simply amazing,” Johnson said.
"He knows the science of getting 30"
@Jumpshot8 continues to be impressed with Luka #MFFL https://t.co/UR0ITacKpw
Eddie Johnson also added that Luka Doncic is still improving too, which makes his dominance all the more impressive. Johnson thinks that as Doncic improves his shot selection, he will be able to average 35.0 points per game consistently.
“Now the scary part here is he’s still a work in progress. Because I think the kid can average 35.0 (points) if he stops falling in love with the three. He’s only shooting 29.0% from three,” Johnson said.
Johnson even went as far as to compare Doncic to NBA superstar LeBron James.
"He gets anywhere on the court he wants. The last player we saw could do that is LeBron (James). So he can get anywhere he can. And so sometimes I think with fatigue, he goes to the three,” Johnson said.
Finally, Johnson said that if Doncic stops shooting threes, he could increase his FG% to as high as 55.0%.
“But he’s not shooting it (3-pointers) well and he’s shooting 52.0% overall. So what does that tell you? He’s shooting 54.0, 55.0 (%) if it wasn’t for the three. So he knows the science of getting 30,” Johnson continued.
Most of Eddie Johnson’s stats were accurate. However, it’s worth noting that Luka Doncic is shooting a career-best 64.7% on 2-pointers this season. So if he cuts back on threes, perhaps Doncic could start eclipsing 60.0% from the field on a regular basis.
Plus even while shooting just 29.7% from three, Doncic is already averaging 36.0PPG. So maybe Johnson is underestimating Doncic's ceiling a little bit.
You may also like to read: Former NBA player interprets Luka Doncic’s ability to carry his team like Steph Curry & Giannis Antetokounmpo did: “The Mavs won why, because they had him"
Luka Doncic records 9th straight 30-point game to start the season, trailing only NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain
Luka Doncic continued to make history on Monday night, recording his ninth consecutive 30-point game to begin the season. Doncic finished with 36 points as the Mavs beat the Brooklyn Nets 96-94. This helped Doncic pass NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain’s second-best mark of eight straight 30-point games to begin the season.
Chamberlain also holds an all-time record of 23 30-point games to start a season, which he accomplished in the 1962-1963 season.
Luka Dončić has recorded his 9th consecutive game with 30+ points to begin this season.
Dončić’s current streak is the 2nd-longest streak of games recording 30+ points to begin a season in @NBA history.
Wilt Chamberlain, 23, 1962-63
*Luka Doncic, 9, 2022-23 https://t.co/7PaEKNyQET
Doncic will now look to extend his 30-point game streak to 10 games on Wednesday on the road against the league-worst 2-9 Orlando Magic.
Watch this: Video: Luka Doncic nails down a trick shot with his shoulder during pre-game shoot around