Luka Doncic has quickly become one of the best players in the NBA. His unique combination of skills, vision, and competitiveness reminds many of the game’s legends. His impact on the court has thrilled fans and greatly influenced the Dallas Mavericks. Recently, Mark Cuban, the owner of the Dallas Mavericks, has started a debate in the basketball world by saying that Luka Doncic is a better player than Dirk Nowitzki ever was.
Cuban thinks Doncic is better for several reasons. He believes Doncic’s scoring, passing, and ball-handling skills make him stand out from Nowitzki.
On the Club Shay Shay podcast, Cuban explained, “Dirk is mentally tougher than anyone I’ve ever met. Dirk had a mindset stronger than almost anyone, except maybe Michael Jordan. But when it comes to skill and instinct, Luka is better. Luka can handle the ball well. Dirk needed help to get the ball.”
Sharpe brought this up recently because earlier in the year, Cuban had said Doncic was better but didn’t explain why.
When Nowitzki was asked about Cuban’s comment, he joked, “Well, the good thing is Mark doesn’t know much about basketball, so he doesn’t know what he’s watching. Just kidding—Mark’s my guy. Honestly, he’s right. Luka is not just scoring a lot; he’s also passing and rebounding well. What he’s doing, I couldn’t do. I was mainly a scorer and not great at passing. So, he’s definitely more skilled than I was.”
Dirk Nowitzki, known for being humble and funny, admits that Doncic is very talented and even thinks Doncic is better than he was in his career.
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Comparing Luka Doncic’s Early Brilliance To Dirk Nowitzki’s Legendary Career
Looking at their career stats shows more about the debate. Luka Doncic has played 400 regular-season games, averaging 28.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 8.3 assists. He shoots 47.0% from the field and 34.7% from three-point range. In the playoffs, he steps up his game to average 31.0 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 8.2 assists over 40 games, with a Player Efficiency Rating (PER) of 25.7.
On the other hand, Dirk Nowitzki played 1,522 regular-season games, averaging 20.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists, shooting 47.1% from the field and 38.0% from three-point range. In the playoffs, he averaged 25.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists across 145 games, finishing with a PER of 22.4.
While Doncic’s career is just starting, he has already reached some impressive milestones. To be considered the best player in Mavericks history, he will need to win an MVP award and an NBA championship.
If the Mavericks can build a strong team around him, Doncic has the chance not only to surpass Nowitzki but also to become one of the greatest players in NBA history.
