In his second season in the NBA, Luka Doncic upped his game during the 2019-20 season and is now making a huge splash in the 2020 NBA Playoffs.

At times in these playoffs, the 21-year old has seemed unstoppable and that’s against a couple of the league’s best defenders in Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. Doncic’s height, ability to control the offense, play making, passing with flair and hitting big shots have brought out comparisons to Los Angeles Lakers great Magic Johnson.

Who would have placed any real money at bet365 on the Dallas Mavericks giving the Los Angeles Clippers a real challenge in the first round? And that’s the magic that everyone is referring to, his historic triple double – the first player to record 43 points, 17 rebounds and 13 assists (or more) in an NBA Playoff game, and step back three tied the series at 2-2.

Luka Magic or King Don?

Though there are a lot of similarities with Magic, Luka’s game actually most resembles a player that’s still active: LeBron James. Doncic’s understanding of spacing, size and prodigious skill set most certainly lends itself to comparisons to The King.

Not only does his play remind us of LeBron James, but the numbers have comes closest to any other player has. According to ESPN’s SCHOENE system, which not only compares height and weight, but eleven key statistical categories, the six most similar seasons to Doncic’s 2019-20 season stats were owned by LeBron.

If you need any more convincing that Doncic is most like James, who better than former teammate Dwyane Wade, retired 13-time NBA All-Star and future Hall of Famer?

“Quote me right where I say this — it’s LeBron James-like from the standpoint of how he’s able to rope that pass to shooters in corners, getting blitzed. There’s not many guys who can do that and put it right there. He does an amazing job of it.”

How About Luka = James Harden?

The difference in athleticism (and defensive abilities) between Doncic and James are hard to overcome when looking at them both. That’s why some around the league think that the better comparison is to James Harden.

The two might not have the most intimidating bodies but there’s no doubt that they’re both big, strong point guards. In a league full of freak athletes, Harden and Doncic don’t stand out when it comes to blazing speed or vertical leap, but they both are athletically gifted, have great footwork and are masters at the stop-and-go and deceleration.

As we imagine the two side-by-side, we can definitely see several stylistic resemblances between Doncic and Harden’s game.

Luka Doncic is Luka Doncic.

When it all comes down to it, if Luka Doncic remains healthy, he’ll end up being his own comparison, his own legend in the annals of the game and his #77 jersey retired and hung from the rafters. The Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers succinctly said this about Doncic:

“He’s a combination of a lot. [James] Harden, in some ways. Obviously the Larry Bird comparison. … He has great vision, LeBron-ish. There’s a lot of people in him. But I think … when he retires, people are going to say he was Luka.”

Luka is Luka? Amen.