The Mavericks’ decision to trade Luka Dončić will live in infamy. We know this already. There might not be a more trustworthy centerpiece once the NBA postseason rolls around. Dončić is a one-man machine, but also a tide lifting all boats. He demands so much attention, he warps a defense so dramatically, that it’s virtually impossible to keep a Dončić-led offense in check. We talk about a ‘walking bucket’ or a ‘walking paint touch.’ Dončić is a walking advantage.
- Chris Kline
FanSided Staff Writer
Dončić has never relied on outlier quickness or burst. He’s mostly ground-bound at 6-foot-7, relying on unrivaled craft and creativity to exploit whatever coverage a defense throws his way. Blitz Dončić on the perimeter and he will always make the right pass. Switch screens and he’ll roast the lumbering 7-footer. Play him straight up with your best defender and it won’t end well. Dončić is almost always operating with some sort of edge, whether it’s strength, footwork, or sheer basketball IQ. He processes the floor at light speed, even when it feels like he’s dribbling more than prime James Harden before an iso. That is what makes Dončić so special — he can play at different speeds and pick the defense apart in his mind before the defense knows it’s been figured out.
Sure, he’s not a great defender and he’s not always chiseled in the mold of a Grecian statue. That doesn’t really matter when Dončić's impact is so thorough and all-encompassing, though. He plays heavy minutes, creates endless easy looks for teammates, and is more capable than anyone in the NBA of carrying an entire team on his shoulders.