Dallas Mavericks’ star player, Luka Doncic surprised the NBA world by sharing his opinion on the ongoing “GOAT” debate. During the Mavericks’ preseason games in Abu Dhabi against the Minnesota Timberwolves he was asked about the greatest basketball player of all time, to which he replied without hesitation, “It’s MJ.”
Doncic’s claim of Michael Jordan as the ultimate basketball legend was unexpected, especially considering his well-known admiration for current Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James. The basketball community still remembers an earlier incident from Doncic’s rookie season when Doncic, filled with excitement, managed to get LeBron’s jersey after their game, proof of his deep respect for James.
Luka Doncic says Michael Jordan is the greatest player of all time pic.twitter.com/Fxjo50hxX7
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 6, 2023
Determining the “GOAT” is often subjective and influenced by biases and accomplishments. Luka’s vote for Jordan suggests that he recognizes MJ’s impact and lasting legacy on basketball worldwide. Despite his connection with LeBron, Luka considers Jordan’s contributions, championships, and his pivotal role in shaping basketball culture as unparalleled.
Luka Doncic admitted he could never catch LeBron James on the NBA scoring list
Interestingly, earlier this year Luka Doncic openly acknowledged that despite his impressive performance statistics in the NBA, he doesn’t envision himself surpassing LeBron James as the league’s all-time leading scorer. In an interview conducted by Tim MacMahon of ESPN, the Dallas Mavericks star player expressed skepticism stating, “If you’re saying me, there’s no way, because I’m not playing that much.”
LeBron James recently surpassed Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s record of 38,387 points. As he enters his 21st season and with the potential to play even more, James has set a remarkably high bar that may prove difficult for other players to reach.
Luka Doncic, on odds of anyone catching LeBron James’ career scoring total: “Odds? You should ask Vegas that.”
Is it possible?: “It’s always a possibility, but it’s going to be really tough.”
Maybe him?: “If you’re saying me, there’s no way because I’m not playing that much.” pic.twitter.com/GUPFi1pKX2
— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) January 5, 2023
While the 24-year-old Doncic is often praised for his scoring abilities, he remains realistic about the chances of anyone surpassing James in the future. When asked about this possibility, Doncic said, “It’s always a possibility, but it’s going to be really tough.”
Doncic has had a great start to his career. With an average of 32.4 points per game last season, he has raised his career average to an impressive 27.6 points per game. This places him among basketball legends like Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, and Elgin Baylor. However, Doncic believes that matching Lebron’s longevity, in the game poses a challenge.
As fans gear up for the start of the 2023-24 NBA season everyone will be eagerly watching Doncic to see how he solidifies his place in the game. The Dallas Mavericks are scheduled to kick off their season against the San Antonio Spurs on October 26th.
