Paul George sensationally claims Luka Doncic could pass Giannis Antetokounmpo and Dirk Nowitzki: “Chance to be the biggest international guy”
Luka Doncic has hit the ground running in his four NBA seasons. He has rightfully placed himself among the league's elite players in the current generation and potentially in history too. Doncic is getting the respect he deserves from teammates and rivals.
LA Clippers star Paul George was the latest to give Doncic his flowers. He believes Doncic is on track to surpass past and current international stars.
"Not next up, Luka is now," George said on his show, "Podcast P."
"Like, Luka is for real now, like, he's passed that next step after his first season. Like, you knew Luka's gonna be that guy.... His size, his scoring ability, his playmaking, his IQ his vision."
Luka Doncic, 24, is arguably the league's most complete offensive player. He's a four-time NBA All-Star and four-time All-NBA first-team honoree, all in four seasons.
"I mean this. We're talking about being the biggest International player now," said George. "Like, that's surpassing GOATs, you know. I mean, that's surpassing Dirk. That's surpassing Tony Parker. That's surpassing Hakeem (Olajuwon). Like, he's got a chance to be the biggest international guy, surpassing Giannis in a way."
Doncic is younger and is yet to boast a resume that's as good as Giannis Antetokounmpo. The latter has a championship, two MVPs and a Finals MVP, with a Defensive Player of the Year award.
Doncic and Giannis possess different skills. They play different positions. So, they are equally talented in their own right.
Luka Doncic has achieved more on an individual level at a younger age, so if he can add some MVPs and championships to his trophy cabinet, there's no reason why he shouldn't surpass Giannis Antetokounmpo in the future as the top international star.
Luka Doncic has the tools to become the greatest international star, but winning a title could take time
Not many NBA players can lead a team to a championship as the only star on a team. Luka Doncic was on that quest until the trade deadline last year. The Dallas Mavericks signed Kyrie Irving via trade, but that move didn't turn out as expected.
Dallas went into a free fall and dropped into the lottery after seeming a lock to make the playoffs as a top-four or top-six seed. However, Doncic and Irving's pairing wasn't to be blamed for that. The Mavericks lost defensive depth, size and shooting with the departures of players Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith in the trade to sign Kyrie.
They have a much better roster this offseason, with Seth Curry, Richaun Holmes and Grant Williams joining the franchise. However, the new-look Dallas Mavericks might take time to gel.
Luka Doncic has the tools to lead a team to a championship, but he needs to become a leader and get everyone on the same page, too.
He plays older than his age, but that won't be enough for him to win a championship, which might be out of his reach for another season or two. However, he will gain that experience steadily, and this season could be the starting point of that arc.