NBA Top 10 Countdown: Two – Luka Doncic is still trying to cement his legacy

In the run-up to the 2024/25 NBA season, Flashscore presents a ranking of the ten best players in the world’s best basketball league. One step away from the top spot is the Mavericks’ Slovenian superstar Luka Doncic (25), who almost won every title last season but is still waiting for the ultimate award.

Six years have already passed since then Luka Doncic arrived in the NBA. His reputation was flattering, but initially anything but appropriate.

For six years he terrorized defenses, gradually climbed the hierarchy, and now there is no doubt: he is one of the best players in the world.

A generational talent, to use a familiar phrase, who has terrified the world with some dazzling performances, as evidenced by his 73-point game last January, the fourth-highest score in history.

But last year marked a turning point: after an overall catastrophic 2023 season, the outsider marched into the playoffs in the dreaded Western Conference. A flawless run, three comfortable wins and a place in the Finals where the Celtics steamroller had to stop them.

Last season was Dallas’ best season since another Texas icon, Dirk Nowitzki, won the title in 2011. The ultimate benchmark.

As the first NBA finalist and finally on the MVP podium, “Luka Magic” is close to the heights that were promised to him since he first burst onto the professional stage at the age of 16 with Real Madrid.

But close doesn’t mean being MVP, and it doesn’t mean being champion. It’s often said that no one remembers a loser and if we don’t want to forget a player like this he needs to start building a real legacy and that’s what is built with titles and trophies.

The MVP and/or the title, there is no need to go into detail when talking about the upcoming season. Luka is probably the second best player in the world, he needs to become first and overtake the Serbian giant who is blocking his path (Nikola Jokic).

We would like him to talk less to the referees and not waste his energy unnecessarily during games, but a player is a whole, and this one is a damn good whole. Magic is to be expected this season, and let’s hope it leads to a crown.

Statistics 2023/24: 33.9 points, 9.8 assists, 9.2 rebounds, 48.7% shooting, 38.2% three-pointers

Goals for 2024/25: 35 points / 10 rebounds / 10 assists / MVP / NBA title