Jason Kidd – Luka Doncic is better than Dirk Nowitzki, in realm of Michael Jordan،
Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd has seen enough to declare All-Star guard Luka Doncic the best player in franchise history.
In fact, Kidd went much further than saying Doncic surpassed Dirk Nowitzki as the best player to ever wear a Mavericks uniform. During a Tuesday appearance on Dallas radio station 97.1 The Freak, “The Downbeat,” Kidd proclaimed that Doncic, 24, belongs in the conversation with Michael Jordan and others on the shortlist of the most great players in NBA history.
“He’s better than Dirk,” said Kidd, a Hall of Famer who was teammates with Nowitzki on the Mavs’ 2010-11 championship team. “He's in MJ's mood, the best to ever do it, LeBron [James]Kobe [Bryant]. And so, just to appreciate what this young man is doing at 24, [it] is something Dallas has never seen. I said it internally: he is better than Dirk. He's doing things that Dirk could never do, and now is the opportunity to surround himself with the right people to finally win a championship. »
Kidd made the bold comments following a historically remarkable three-game stretch for Doncic, starting with a 73-point outburst in Friday's win over the Atlanta Hawks, the highest performance in the league since Bryant's epic 81-point night.
Doncic averaged 48.7 points and 13.0 assists in the three games over four nights, or 79.7 points per game. According to research from ESPN Stats & Information, only Wilt Chamberlain has generated more points in three games in NBA history, accounting for averages of 82 and 81 points in three consecutive games in 1962.
Doncic became the first player to average a triple-double of 50 points over two games, following up his 73 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists performance in Atlanta with 28 points, 10 rebounds and 17 assists in the following night's home defeat. to the Sacramento Kings. With Mavs co-star Kyrie Irving sidelined by a sprained right thumb, Doncic rested just five minutes total consecutively.
“I’m tired,” Doncic said after the game Saturday night. “I can’t wait to go to sleep, honestly.”
Doncic mustered up enough energy two nights later to record 45 points, 9 rebounds and 15 assists in a comeback win over the Orlando Magic. He became the first player in NBA history to post multiple 45-point, 15-assist performances. His first came on Christmas Eve, when Doncic had 50 points and 15 assists in a road win over the Phoenix Suns.
There is no doubt that Doncic, who is averaging 34.7 points, 8.6 rebounds and 9.6 assists for the Mavericks 26-21 this season, has a statistical output that compares favorably to that of the legends of the league.
Dallas, however, hasn't had much postseason success during the five-time All-Star's career. Doncic's playoff average of 32.5 points per game ranks second behind Jordan's (33.4), but the Mavs have only made it out of the first round once with Doncic, reaching the Conference Finals West in 2022. Dallas did not qualify for the playoffs last year.
Nonetheless, Kidd is comfortable including Doncic among the best players of all time and predicted his championships would come, pointing out that Jordan had yet to win a title at this point in his career.
“This young man is 24 years old and breaking every record put in front of him,” Kidd said. “He's a winner, and his ultimate goal is to win a championship. And he'll do that and not just win one, but he'll win several when it's all said and done.”
