MVP Ladder: Rising star Luka Doncic follows own rhythm, says Goran Dragic
Taking stock of the Top 5 contenders in the Kia MVP Award chase
Saturday 14 December 2019 09:02, UK
Rising star Luka Doncic is making good on a prediction made by his compatriot Goran Dragic more than two years ago, writes NBA.com's Sekou Smith.
Goran Dragic tried to warn us.
When he and Luka Doncic were leading Slovenia to the title at EuroBasket 2017, the Miami Heat point guard was singing the praises of his teenage team-mate who was still playing for Real Madrid.
Dragic swore that Doncic would do the same things he'd done on the world stage in the NBA.
"He's a born winner. No, I'm not kidding, he already has a lot of trophies, and medals," Dragic said after Slovenia knocked off Serbia in the title game. "I'm happy for him. Mark my words, he's going to be one of the best in the whole world."
Fast-forward to this season and Doncic is doing exactly what Dragic said he would. As proof, he's No 2 in this week's Kia Race to the MVP Ladder.
But even Dragic has to admit he has been a little surprised at how quickly Doncic has dominated in the NBA.
"I know what I said before and I meant it," Dragic said after a Miami Heat shootaround this week.
"The only thing that surprises me is that it's so quick. I was thinking third, fourth, fifth year [in the NBA]. But not in his second year. He's already showing he's one of the best and he's only 20 years old and he's putting up the numbers like, it seems crazy to say it, but the next Michael Jordan."
As big a deal as Doncic has become in the NBA, Dragic said it's hard to describe what his rise means back in Slovenia.
"It's awesome, crazy and awesome, and I'm just so happy for him and his family," Dragic said. "I played with his dad [Saša]. I've known him since he was five years old, he was a ball boy for our team. So it's amazing to see his growth from a young kid until now. I mean, he's still young, but… he doesn't play like it."
To Dragic, seeing Doncic dominate the NBA in his own way is enjoyable - mostly because Doncic is silencing the skeptics who didn't believe his game would translate.
"I told somebody that even when we played for the national team, he plays at his own pace. Nobody can speed him up, and nobody can make him feel uncomfortable," Dragic said. "He's always in a rhythm and he just knows how to use his body and his strength. He's a strong, big guy who can make plays over the top of any defense and makes everybody better around him and you can see it every night."
Sekou's MVP ladder
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
Last week: No 1
Season stats: 30.9 points, 13.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.3 blocks
Antetokounmpo missed his first game of the season on Wednesday night with a sore right quadriceps tendon. It was a well-earned night off for the 'Greek Freak', who wasn't needed to dispatch the struggling New Orleans Pelicans.
The Bucks are a remarkable roll right now, winners of 16 straight and counting, and it starts with the tone Antetokounmpo set in training camp.
2. Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks)
Last week: No 2
Season stats: 30.4 points, 9.9 rebounds, 9.3 assists, 1.3 steals
Doncic posted his second 40-point triple-double of the season with a 41-point, 12-rebound, 11-assist masterpiece in a win over the Pistons on Thursday night in Mexico City.
More importantly, the Mavericks are rolling, having won 11 of their past 13 games to climb within a game of second place in the West behind the LA Clippers.
3. LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers)
Last week: No 3
Season stats: 25.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 10.8 assists, 1.3 steals
Anthony Davis earned the latest Western Conference Player of the Week honours, but it's LeBron who keeps reminding us all who the Lakers' true energy source is.
He scored 63 points and dished out 21 assists in wins over Portland and Minnesota before knocking the Magic out on Wednesday with yet another triple-double (25 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists).
4. James Harden (Houston Rockets)
Last week: No 4
Season stats: 38.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 2.0 steals
The Rockets needed every one of the 55 points Harden delivered in Wednesday's win in Cleveland.
He continues to touch every scoring space in the NBA record book, having now authored the most 55-plus point games on the road (four) in league history behind Wilt Chamberlain (31). Anytime you trail only Wilt on a list, that's a good thing.
5. Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers)
Last week: No 6
Season stats: 27.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.5 steals, 2.3 blocks
After smoking the Minnesota Timberwolves for 50 points on Sunday, Davis cooled off a bit on Wednesday night in Orlando (16 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, two steals and two blocks).
But it's hard to argue there is a more potent duo in the league right now than he and James.
The next five
6. Jimmy Butler (Miami Heat)
7. Pascal Siakam (Toronto Raptors)
8. Kawhi Leonard (LA Clippers)
9. Kemba Walker (Boston Celtics)
10. Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers) and Paul George (LA Clippers)
Sekou Smith is a veteran NBA reporter and NBA TV analyst. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Turner Broadcasting.
