A few months ago Stan Van Gundy called Luka Doncic the greatest offensive player in NBA history, arguing that there isn't anything he can't do offensively and I personally think that it’s a great hot take considering that no other player before had such a high 3 level scoring, strenght, size, IQ, shot creating and playmaking abilities combined while also being very consistent and clutch in the playoffs, racking up historical statlines at just 25 years old. I know he still has a lot to prove in the league to be ranked above legends like Larry or KD but judging only by offensive arsenal in their prime I think he’s up there. Let me know your opinions on this.
by Outrageous-Grade-715
28 Comments
Its close but I think prime Salah Mejiri clears him
It’s hard to say past this generation. To me it’s between him and Durant
…no.
Yes because I am unbelievably biased
I don’t know how anybody just not mention the GOAT MJ. Lol.
30 PPG, 10 scoring titles, 40 PPG multiple times in playoffs. Mid range GOAT, post up powerhouse, beautiful shot form, artistic finishes and dunks at the rim because he’s got both athleticism and finesse.
All that while playing the best defense of any SG ever.
Yes
In terms of pure innate talent and IQ, he’s definitely up there and I’m not shy about saying that. But in terms of results it would be very difficult for him to overcome players like MJ. He’s already at the age where he needs to start winning MVPs and championships like… now, in order to do so.
Keep in mind MJ would average 35, 36, *37* PPG in an era with 0 shooting or spacing while also playing like 80 games a year and he did not slow down at all in the playoffs. Jimmy Butler against the Bucks was like MJ every single playoffs every single year, but he was still better
Idk what you wanna call it, but ever since basically his rookie year I’ve watched nearly every single Mavs game because you just have to see him play live. You just knew he was special.
He has spoiled at least this mavs fan, cause when I watch other team’s stars I’m constantly disappointed cause Luka is just so much better and more intuitive than everyone else. He sees the court better than any other player imo.
Like watching the 60/20/10 Knicks game, that is probably my favorite Luka game moment because it just encapsulates why he’s so great. Absurd statistical production, AND that magical “MJ” type of feeling that no matter what the situation is, Luka will make a game winning play. Even the other team feels the same exact way. He’s inevitable.
Probably
He’s top ten all time and that isn’t an exaggeration.
🧢🧢🧢🧢🧢🧢🧢🧢🧢
I don’t know but I’ll say yes
No he’s not quite at the level of Steph, MJ, Kareem, Kobe, or peak Westbrook/Harden.
MJ and peak Shaq (99-01) regardless of not playmaking were better offensive talents. Peak Lebron and Peak Steph (14-15 and 15-16) as well.
I know PER is a problematic stat but it’s a decent measure of rough box score efficiency and output when comparing number one options who take a high number of shots in the same position.
You know Jokic always seems to have the advantage in that? He clears Embiid by some microscopic amounts.
In 2000-01, Shaq had a PER of 30.xx The second highest in the league was Tim Duncan iirc at 25.xx which is a gap of 5+. That is the largest difference between 1 and 2 in PER in the history of basketball post-merger.
That is a bigger gap between the gap between 1 and 2 in the last 5 years put together. The gap between Jokic and Embid last year was 0.12. The difference between Shaq (#1) and #2 was more than the difference between #2 and #30/#31 that year.
Shaq also led the league in true shooting percentage, win shares and box score plus/minus.
In 2000-01, Shaq had a FG% of 57.27. While Shaq averaged 28.7 ppg, none of the other players with FG% higher than 50% had a PPG higher than 20. Out of the 11 players other than him with a FG% higher than 50% that year, 10 avaeraged less than 15 ppg and everyone of them averaged less than 20 ppg.
The second highest FG% for a player who averaged 20+ PPG that year was Tim Duncan who averaged 22.2 at 49.9 which is a gap of 7.28 which is absolutely astounding.
Shaq’s 28.7 ppg that year was 3rd in the NBA. The 2 players above him had a FG% which was 15% (#1 Iverson) and 17% (#2 stackhouse worse than him.
Shaq also had the most blocks per game in the league (2.8), 3rd most rebounds in the league (12.7), highest efg% (57.2%).
Shaq was the most reliable volume scorer in the league with an efficiency several leagues above anyone else who was a serious #1 scorer (15+ ppg) on a team. On top of that, he was also had the most blocks per game and was among the top 3 in rebounds. He finished with 28.7/12.7/3.4/2.8 @ 57.7 for the season.
In the playoffs, among 0layers with more then 5 games, he had the second highest PPG (30.4) with the highest FG% of 55.5% (20+ ppg) which was again higher by a similar amount than second best with Duncan with a FG% of 48.8. He led the league in rebounds with 15.4 and was 4th in blocks with 2.4. He finished with 33/16/6 in the finals which is one of the most dominant finals performances of all time.
That is just one year in the middle of his peak. Just blew up everything. Kobe was a very good player from 2001 but his importance to those runs was highly overrated outside of 2001 where was great till the WCF and even then in the finals, he averaged about 15 and Shaq took over.
Bird is the greatest of all time. He would feast in today’s NBA. I love Luka and he is great. I’m not a hater. LOL
he’s the goat
Get this man a new photo
MJ scored more in a slower paced era. Shaq was a complete monster and nightmare. As far as talent and skill I’m not sure who else could be in the conversation with Luka besides maybe Steph, Joker or Lebron in his prime.
I been saying this… so glad this post supports my delusion lol
Dirk, Finley, Nash
It’s hard to say because of different eras and opponents. I don’t think of all time but I will say right now he probably is.
No
he hasnt surpassed steph yet but i predict that he will be the best offensive player of all time in a few years
Better than Lebron (offensively) but people aren’t ready for this conversation.
Yes sir
Yep.
This sub always pretends like Jokic doesnt exist
In Convo yes
Maybe not the greatest yet but definitely most complete
Any offensive skills in basketball book history, he can do it at great level at minimum