Kidd: Dončić Tops for Mavs, Ranks with MJ

Step aside Dirk Nowitzki, there’s a new top player in Dallas, and his name is Luka Dončić. On Tuesday, Jason Kidd, the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, declared that the four-time All-NBA guard has now surpassed Nowitzki as the franchise’s best player.

Dirk Nowitzki dedicated his entire 21-year career to playing for Dallas, a remarkable feat as the sole NBA player to spend such an extended period with a single team. The German basketball icon achieved numerous milestones, including being the first European player to start an NBA All-Star game and the recipient of the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award in 2007.

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Nowitzki, a 14-time All-Star and 12-time All-NBA selection, played a pivotal role in leading the Mavericks to their first and only NBA championship in 2011, triumphing over the heavily favored LeBron James-led Miami Heat. His outstanding performance in that series earned him the NBA Finals MVP.

Throughout Nowitzki’s tenure with the franchise, Dallas made the playoffs in all but six seasons.

In a significant accolade, Luka Dončić has been recognized by Jason Kidd, the former teammate and head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, as surpassing the franchise legend Dirk Nowitzki. Kidd, speaking on 97.1 The Freak’s “The Downbeat,” emphasized that Dončić not only deserves acknowledgement in the same breath as Nowitzki but should also be considered among the all-time greats such as Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Kobe Bryant.

Kidd stated, “He’s better than Dirk. He’s in the atmosphere of the best to ever do it, LeBron, Kobe. And so, just to appreciate what this young man’s doing at the age of 24 is something that Dallas has never seen. I’ve said this internally: He is better than Dirk. He does things that Dirk could never do, and now is the opportunity of getting the right people around him to ultimately win a championship.”

This commendation comes from Kidd, himself a 2021 Hall of Fame inductee, adding weight to the recognition of Dončić’s extraordinary talents.

Over the past weekend, Luka Dončić delivered an unprecedented performance, showcasing his versatility. On Friday, he scored an impressive 73 points in Dallas’ victory against the Atlanta Hawks. The following day, despite a loss to the Sacramento Kings, he recorded 17 assists. Dončić continued his outstanding play on Monday, contributing 45 points and 15 assists in the Mavericks’ 131-129 win over the Orlando Magic.

Notably, the 73-point game stands as the second-highest-scoring performance in the league since Kobe Bryant’s iconic 81-point game.

Reflecting on his remarkable weekend, Dončić admitted, “I’m tired. I can’t wait to go to sleep, honestly.”

At just 24 years old, Dončić is maintaining impressive averages of 34.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 9.6 assists. In response to Jason Kidd’s comparison to Michael Jordan, it’s worth noting that Dončić’s playoff scoring average of 32.5 points ranks second only to the six-time NBA champion’s 33.4 points.

However, the comparison diverges when considering team success. Unlike Nowitzki’s and Jordan’s teams, Dončić’s Mavericks faced challenges, missing the playoffs last season and during Dončić’s rookie season in 2018-19.

Although Dallas did experience three consecutive playoff appearances from 2020 to 2022, Luka Dončić’s tenure has seen limited success beyond the first round, with only one instance in which they progressed further. Notably, the 2022 playoffs saw the Mavericks reach the Western Conference finals, marking a significant achievement.

However, Jason Kidd is firmly convinced that, despite being just 24 years old, Dončić is already establishing a career on the path to legendary status. Kidd emphasized that Dončić has been consistently breaking records and showcased a winning mentality. According to Kidd, Dončić’s ultimate goal is to secure an NBA championship, and he believes that the young star will not only achieve this but will go on to win multiple championships throughout his career.