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If you’ve watched any basketball over the past two years, you’re probably well acquainted with Luka Doncic. While the young Solivenian hasn’t been in the NBA for long, he’s already proven to be a true talent. With the Dallas Mavericks slated to meet the LA Clippers in the first round of the NBA playoffs, Doc Rivers knows what his team will be dealing with.

While some coaches may be hesitant to praise the opposition, Rivers didn’t let the competition cloud his judgment. In fact, the NBA veteran paid Luka Doncic an incredible compliment, comparing him to two NBA greats.

Luka Doncic’s rapid rise to stardom

Even the most talented athletes can have some growing pains when they make the leap to the NBA. Luke Doncic, however, hasn’t missed a beat during his young basketball career.

Growing up in Slovenia, Doncic got his start with his hometown team Union Olimpija. From the beginning, it was clear that he was a cut above the rest; after making a name for himself as a youth player, he made the move to Real Madrid. Before long, he forced his way into the senior squad.

After three impressive seasons and a EuroLeague MVP award, Doncic decided that he was ready for a new challenge and entered into the 2019 NBA draft. While the Atlanta Hawks snagged the guard with the third-overall pick, they promptly flipped him to the Dallas Mavericks; from there, the rest is (modern) history.

During his first North American campaign, Donic exploded, averaging 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 6 assists per game en route to the Rookie of the Year title. While his second season featured a few injuries, the young Slovenian improved across the board; he ended up suiting up for 61 appearances and averaged 28.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 8.8 assists.

Doc Rivers has high praise for the Mavericks star

During his time as both a player and a coach, Doc Rivers has crossed paths with some legendary basketball players. Based on his recent comments, it sounds like he already considers Luka Doncic to be one of them.

Ahead of the Clippers’ first-round playoff series against the Mavs, Rivers was asked Dallas’ explosive offense. Unsurprisingly, he highlighted Doncic as the straw that stirs the drink.

“[Doncic] has the ability to score, he gets to the paint, he’s strong, and he’s an elite passer,” Rivers explained in his recent media availability. “So, there’s no great offense that doesn’t start with a great player, and he’s a great player.”

The veteran coach fielded a question about Mavs coach Rick Carlisle comparing Doncic to Jason Kidd and Larry Bird. While those are some pretty big names in the world of basketball, Doc didn’t take issue with the assessment.

“Luka, to me, is a little bit of both,” Rivers continued. “He has the passing of Jason Kidd, but he has the scoring ability of Larry Bird, and that’s what makes him such a difficult cover.”

The NBA playoffs will be a new experience for Luka Doncic

Even if you think calling him a blend of Larry Bird and Jason Kidd is a bit hyperbolic, Luke Doncic clearly has plenty of talent. The 2020 NBA playoffs, however, will be a new test for the young Slovenian.

While Doncic has played plenty of playoff basketball in Europe and faced off against the Clippers before, the NBA playoffs are a different beast. In a series, individual match-ups and tactical choices matter much more than they would in a one-off game. To make matters worse, the Clippers boast both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George; dealing with their defense across multiple games would be a tough ask for anyone.

At the end of the day, though, great players find a way to rise to the occasion and show up in big moments. Based on everything we know of Luka Doncic, he’ll still make an impact, no matter what Doc Rivers and the Clippers throw at him.

Stats courtesy of Basketball-Reference

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Senior Writer, Programmer

Joe Kozlowski

Joe Kozlowski began his career as a sports journalist in 2013 and joined Sportscasting in 2019. He covers the NBA and soccer for Sportscasting, with specialties in legacy NBA players such as Michael Jordan and Premier League club Arsenal. Off the clock, he’s a Kansas City Chiefs fan and a hockey goalie.

Growing up loving Shaquille O’Neal and reading everything he could about the great big men throughout NBA history — likely because he was still tall enough, at least relative to his peers, to play center — he’s continued to love learning about and exploring the historical and story-based sides of the basketball archives.

As for Arsenal, Joe spent a year living in London and latched onto the local support of the club. He’s barely missed a match since, loving Arsene Wenger, enduring the Banter Era, and following along through rebuilds. The Premier League interest developed into a passionate following of the Champions League, Europe’s big five league, and international soccer as a whole when played at the highest level.

Regardless of the sport, Joe is captivated by the stories of athletes beyond the box scores and how they push the envelope — both in terms of what we think a human is capable of accomplishing and how they find new competitive tactics to win.