When Luka Doncic first came into the NBA, numerous analysts were intrigued about how he would acclimatize to playing in the world’s toughest basketball league. After all, he wasn’t coming in as some one-and-done college prospect, he was much closer to a finished product and the MVP of arguably the second best league in the world – the EuroLeague.

His rookie season proved beyond all doubt that he belonged. Sure, he didn’t suddenly lead the Dallas Mavericks to the playoffs. But let’s be frank, that wasn’t a fair ask considering the roster he was playing with. He certainly showed, however, that he wasn’t intimidated by anyone. He put up a dazzling mix of memorable performances, from triple-doubles, to game-winners, and added his name to the list of players known for making dagger threes.

In 72 games last year, he averaged 21 PPG, 7.8 RPG, and 6 APG. These are numbers that a veteran would be proud of.

So, after a season, the world had all bought into the hype. Everyone agreed that Doncic was for real, and a force to be reckoned with for at least a decade. 

Making a case for MVP in his sophomore season

What no one expected, though, was how he would start the 2019-20 season. Doncic isn’t just playing well, he is obliterating teams with his complete package of shooting, passing, rebounding, and instincts. In thirteen games, he’s posted SEVEN triple-doubles.

The most recent of those was today, where he set an NBA record as the only person to have ever notched a triple-double in 25 minutes or less.  Oh, and before I forget to mention it, he also had more assists, rebounds, and points than the entire opposing team in the first quarter. He finished with 35 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists.

His current numbers this season are 29.5 PPG, 10.7 RPG, and 9.3 APG. At the age of 20, the kid looks primed to take over the world.

Doncic is simply unreal. He makes up for his deficiencies, such as a lack of elite athleticism, by relying on footwork, guile, and a basketball IQ that is off the charts. He doesn’t always need to blow by you, but he’ll find a way to get the space he needs to get off a shot or hit that perfect pass.

The Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings may have had their reasons for passing on him in last year’s draft, but they’re certainly looking foolish now. DeAndre Ayton, who went #1 overall, is currently serving a 25-game suspension for use of a banned substance. Marvin Bagley III, who was picked #2 by the Kings, is currently rehabilitating a broken hand.

Both players look like they could become good, with skillsets that fit their team’s styles of play. Ayton is a monster of an inside presence who will battle and bang under the boards, and should finally get more touches once he’s back from his long break. He was criminally underserved in the offensive scheme last year, and needed far more touches of the ball. A strong veteran point guard like Ricky Rubio will go a long way in helping with that.

Bagley, on the other hand, showed flashes of greatness in his rookie year with the Kings. He’s a hard working power forward whose blend of speed, jumping ability, and improving shot fit perfectly with a Kings offense that pushed the pace last year en-route to a surprising 39-43 finish. He still showed a lot of holes to work on though, like biting too often on pump fakes from veteran opponents, being impatient with the ball, and forcing the issue at times.

Some within the Kings organization certainly felt that Bagley would fit better with their emerging point guard, De’Aaron Fox, but it’s hard to imagine how two talents like Fox and Doncic would not have figured out how to make it work. The Rockets are currently third in the west and they have two of the most ball-dominant players in NBA history playing with each other.

Both Ayton and Bagley could turn out to be franchise players, but at the moment, they are light years behind Doncic in the impact that they’re having. It is no coincidence that the Dallas Mavericks are currently tied for fourth in the loaded Western Conference, sporting a 9-5 record. Should the Mavericks make the postseason, he will probably have a huge case for league MVP.

Two years in, there is little evidence to refute that Doncic is the best player to come out of his draft class. No offense to Ayton, Bagley, Trae Young, or Jaren Jackson Jr – the wily kid from Ljubljana, Slovenia is simply a world apart.

As for the Suns and Kings, it must be hard for their fanbases to read every new headline about Doncic. It certainly shows that sometimes, you’ve just got to draft the best player, not the best fit for the organization.