“Luka is the GOAT. Luka is not next up, Luka is now” - Paul George breaks down how Luka Doncic can become the greatest international player
Even though Luka Doncic has only played in the NBA for five years, Paul George believes the Dallas Mavericks star is already among the all-time greats.
On an episode of 'Podcast P,' the eight-time All-Star claimed that Doncic's time to become the biggest star is not in the future but instead its present. Moreover, PG13 also urged that the Slovenian has the potential to become the most significant foreign player to play on the American hardwood.
“Luka is the GOAT. Luka is not next up, Luka is now," George continued. “Luka's going to be that guy, and he's that guy now. With his size, his scoring ability, his playmaking, his I.Q., his vision… now we're talking about being the biggest international player now. He’s got a chance to be one of the best to ever do it.”
Can Doncic become the international GOAT of the NBA?
Despite having obvious defensive shortcomings, Doncic is one of the league's most complete, versatile, and dependable scorers. 'Luka Magic' has averaged 29.4 points per game over the past four seasons, a testament to his talent and scoring range.
Doncic's selection to four All-NBA and All-Star teams doesn't ensure team success. Instead, each player's success is determined by how successfully they impacted the game and influenced their squad. Although Luka has been the Mavs' top-scoring option since he was 19 years old, he still has some obstacles to overcome before entering the conversation as one of the greatest ever.
Even though Doncic is on pace to surpass some of the most illustrious international superstars of the game, he still has a lot to accomplish as the Mavs' captain. Hall of Famers like Tony Parker, Dirk Nowitzki, and Hakeem Olajuwon have all won at least one title, while Doncic has only made one trip to the WC Finals in his short career.
No matter how good Doncic is or can be if he can't lead the Mavericks to a championship, he will never be considered the all-time greatest international player by the critics, who already hold Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo in higher regard than Luka over the same aspect.
Paul George has witnessed Doncic at his best
Nevertheless, that is undoubtedly a huge compliment coming from a 13-year veteran. However, PG13 isn't just following a Doncic-hype train; he has had firsthand experience with Doncic's brilliance. For those unaware, the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers competed in the playoffs in back-to-back years in 2020 and 2021, with both series lasting up to six and seven games, respectively.
Even though the Clippers were able to defeat the Mavs on both occasions, Doncic was still able to make an impression, averaging 31.0 points over 6 games in 2020 and 35.7 points over 7 in 2021 against Kawhi and George-led Clippers.
Having said that, Doncic will have his greatest shot to contend for a championship in the 2023–24 season with Kyrie Irving by his side. An NBA title won't feel too far-fetched if the Mavs can finally put a championship-caliber roster around their best-ever.
