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“He Puts Up Cartoon Numbers”: Dallas Mavericks’ Legend Compares Luka Doncic to Larry Bird

Published 12/20/2020, 11:51 AM EST

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The Dallas Mavericks took the league by storm, all thanks to the stellar performances that Luka Doncic put up for them last season. He is a once-in-a-generation type of player who averaged 28.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 8.8 assists. Not only that, but he also shot 46.3% from the field and 31.6% from the three-point range.

He has established his name as one of the rising stars in the league, and now the Mavericks are one of the favorite underdogs to win the 2020-21 NBA season.

New generation players are consistently compared to the NBA’s legends. And according to popular opinion, one such legend Doncic is seen becoming into is Larry Bird.

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Larry Bird 2.0

In an interview with Dallas Mavericks’ legend, Derek Harper, who has played against Larry Bird himself, is asked if he sees similarities between the two. “The first thing I’d say is IQ, “he stated. “Both of those guys have a lot of intelligence when it comes to the game.

“We’ve been looking for somebody to compare this guy to since he’s been in the league. This is his third year coming up. I wouldn’t be surprised if Luka is MVP. But there, Luka is Luka. He puts up cartoon numbers as a player.”

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Derek also narrated his experience of watching Luka play. He said, “I saw Luka in practice when he first got here about two or three times. And I said, “Screw this man. This kid is going to be All NBA, he’s going to be MVP a couple of times.’ He just gets it, man.”

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Can Luka Doncic be MVP in 2020-21?

One of the most important factors for one to be considered MVP are the staggering numbers. This is an area Luka has no problems in. His playmaking abilities and mystical scoring let him finish with some of the best statistics in the league.

One thing Luka has to ensure to get the MVP trophy is to lead the Mavericks to at least the top-five seed in the Western Conference. To be able to take a team towards contention is one of the most important aspects considered for the MVP race.

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USA Today via Reuters

The one who is predicted to give Giannis Antetokounmpo a fair fight for the MVP title is Luka. Will the ‘Larry Bird in the making’ young star beat the two time MVP winner in the upcoming season?

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Written by:

Yashima Bhatia

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Yashima Bhatia is an NBA writer for EssentiallySports who specialises in providing nuanced predictions and updates for matches. She has a Bachelor's degree in journalism and mass communication. Yashima's love for playing the game came up at a young age, when the excitement of the games coupled with the intensity of the Playoffs had her hooked.
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