Luka Doncic is on a path to NBA greatness. At just 25 years old, the Slovenian sensation has already carved out an impressive resume. Luka has racked up five All-Star appearances and four All-NBA selections in his first six seasons. However, despite the close calls, that elusive championship ring has stayed just out of reach.
Former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas thinks he knows the missing piece in Doncic's puzzle — an elite superstar to complement his game.
"I think with Luka . There's just certain players that you have to, like a Magic Johnson. Like, think of Magic Johnson with someone like Luka right, the ball is in his hands, and he's a bigger guard; you can't go small with his talent, right? Going small hurts him," Arenas said on "The OGs."
Backup is needed for Luka
Since his NBA debut, the 2019 Rookie of The Year has proven to be a formidable superstar with his elite scoring. No. 77 took home the league's scoring title last season with an average of 33.9 points per game. Doncic also excels as a rebounder and setting up his teammates for success.
One thing that has been missing since he was drafted in 2018 was a co-star. The Mavs got Kyrie Irving , and together, they formed one of the best duos in the league. However, they couldn't take that form into the Finals.
In Game 2 of the NBA Finals, Luka delivered an incredible performance with a 32-point, 11-rebound, and 11-assist triple-double, to go along with his four steals. Despite his efforts, the Dallas Mavericks fell to the Boston Celtics, 105-98.
While all five Dallas starters reached double digits in scoring, they struggled from beyond the arc, collectively shooting just 1-of-11 from three-point range. Irving put up 16 points on a below-par 7-of-18 shooting.
Luka, being the main man, was the trend we saw throughout the series as he led the team in scoring in four out of five games, taking on most of the team's workload.
"You can't have Kyrie at the two [shooting guard] … That's not how you win with this guy, you have to go big...Because now, who has to guard him? Yeah, you can't hide him…he gets to do whatever he wants; you have to have a big lineup with Luka; that's the only way Luka wins."
Related: "You could just feel it, the lack of respect" - Alonzo Mourning on the tense environment in the gold medal game against France in the 2000 Olympics
The missing piece?
Doncic is currently the undeniable leader of the Mavericks, as he will undoubtedly receive all the praise for a great performance and take the brunt of the blame for a bad one.
In the deciding Game 5 of the Finals, the Slovenian put up an impressive stat line: 28 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Despite his heroics, the Celtics proved to be the better team throughout the series, like they were all season, putting an end to the Mavericks' championship dreams.
To ensure they get back to that big stage this coming season, Dallas acquired Klay Thompson from the Golden State Warriors in a sign-and-trade deal in July. Even though Thompson is in the later stages of his career, he still has plenty left in the tank to help push Dallas over the top.
The former Warrior brings a championship-winning mentality, complementing Irving and Doncic. Not to mention his 3-point shooting—something the Mavs lacked in the championship series vs. Boston.
Related: Gilbert Arenas on why he'd build around Luka than SGA: "When he's not complaining, he's dominating"
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