Can Luka Doncic Shake Trae Young Comparisons?

DALLAS - Although Luka Doncic is a top-five superstar, another lesser-ranked player is connected at the hip with the Dallas Mavericks superstar. No matter what Doncic does, whispers of Trae Young follow. The two's journey intertwined during the 2018 NBA Draft when the Atlanta Hawks traded Doncic (selected third) for the Mavs' fifth pick.

A recent stat reiterates the proximity between the two stars.

According to StatMuse, since Doncic and Young's inception into the NBA, they are first and second in these stats:

• 20p/10a games

• 25p/10a games

• 30p/10a games

• 35p/10a games

• 45p/10a games

• 25p/10a games

• 20p/15a games

• 25p/10a games

• 30p/15a games

• 35p/15a games

The stats above allude to basketball takes; some are valid, others are not. Poor takes aside, like their 2018 NBA Draft swap, Young and Doncic shared similar career paths. In 2021, the Hawks shocked the world with an Eastern Conference Finals berth, followed by Doncic making the Western Conference in 2022.

Both stars experienced significant success in their respective conferences, which only fueled growing animosity between the two fan bases. Although Doncic and Young never insinuated such a beef existed, fans pitted the two stars against each other.

However, following Doncic's 2024 NBA Finals run, the Atlanta point guard missed a lap in the figurative race. After the Hawks missed the 2024 playoffs and traded Dejounte Murray, Young is in an odd place. Meanwhile, the Mavericks loaded their team with the deepest roster around Doncic.

Related: The Luka Effect: How Dončić is Expanding Mavs’ International Brand

Although the statistical comparisons and the 2018 NBA Draft may align the two stars, their career arcs are at a fork in the road.