A fateful draft-night trade will forever link these two stellar sophomores, but we’re still no closer to seeing who won in that exchange. Luka Doncic and Trae Young have set a new bar for NBA newcomers as they walked through the bowels of the arena and secured their seat at the proverbial table amongst the league’s elite - all while not even being able to gain access into the most popular night club in the same cities they watch on billboards, building wraps and banners. Even the Hawks General Manager Travis Schlenk admitted that his group was torn between the two players in scouting. It seems like every other night Young or Doncic deliver a virtuoso performance swinging the narrative in their favor. Since day one they have traded monster performances like boxers standing toe-to-toe and exchanging blow for blow.
The 2018 draft-night transaction sent the Atlanta Hawks’ first-round pick, Doncic, to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for their first-round pick, Young, and an additional first-round selection the following year. Since that moment the debate for Trae over Luka or Luka over Trae has raged on. Even the most passive sports fans have heard dissertations for one of the other. During the first half of the 2018 season, if you asked many basketball fans, the rookie of the year debate seemed an obvious choice. Luka Doncic raced out to a sizable lead over Trae Young, gobbling up all the headlines and fanfare. Yet in the season’s latter half, Young stepped up and surpassed Doncic in the eyes of many spectators and analysts. This tug-of-war for control will likely define their careers.
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The two have already amassed a litany of milestones between them. In the 76 year history of the NBA, only 16 players who began their rookie season under the age of 20 have managed to average more than 10 points in a season. Luka Doncic mangled that mark by posting a ridiculous 21 points per game his first year. The Dallas Maverick star became the youngest player to start an All-Star game in 15 years. He was the 9th youngest to ever play in the game and the 6th youngest to start. Young recently became the second player in NBA history with 10 or more 40 point games in one season at 21 years old or younger, joining LeBron James in a class of two. In only his second-year, Young is averaging 30 points and 9 assists per game. He now joins all-time great Oscar Robertson as the only players to average those marks in their second season.
The situations couldn’t be more different for the pair. Luka was drafted by one of the most well-run and well-coached organizations in the league. Since his first season, that organization has surrounded him with other all-star caliber players in Harrison Barnes, DeAndre Jordan and Kristaps Porzingis and owner Mark Cuban has worked tirelessly to field a competitive team as he always does. The Mavericks have seldom missed the postseason in the last 12 years. Meanwhile, Young was taken by the Hawks - a franchise wading in mediocrity for years with a string of nonsensical trades and head-scratching draft picks in recent memory. The two franchises are light-years apart.
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Aside from being in two dissimilar situations, they are two totally different players with styles of their own. Young is 6-foot-1 at 180lbs and relies on his long-range shooting to space the floor. Once the defense is pulled farther away from the basket to contest his long jumpers, Young can then dash by defenders with a lightning-quick first step. With the defense compromised, Young can then use his incredible court vision and passing ability to find teammates. If there is a path, Young isn’t afraid to venture into the paint and finish among the trees. Luka Doncic stands 6-foot-7 at 230lbs - a slightly more physical player-- and he is able to more considerably impact the game on the glass. The Slovenian totals 9.3 rebounds per game. Like Young, he’s a master at the pick-and-roll and has equally dazzling court vision. Neither are particularly great defenders but give effort on that end.
Most would point to wins and losses as the biggest difference between the two. Yet, that picture is still blurring due to Young’s lack of help (although the Hawks seem to be mounting a stand with the acquisition of Clint Capela). Prior to the Coronavirus-related postponement, Dallas was currently sitting at the 7 seed in the West, good enough for a playoff slot - while Atlanta is near the bottom and looks to be en route to another lottery pick. But the Mavericks have been in win-now mode since Cuban took over a majority stake in 2000. Since that year, the Hawks have only won six playoff series while the Mavericks have reached multiple NBA finals and even captured a title back in 2011, led by future Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki.
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Overall there looks to be a shift in the league with more and more young players getting an opportunity to compete early in their career. Three teams have a combined 13 rookies on their roster in Miami, Charlotte, and New York. Compare this to 2000-01 when all three clubs had a combined 5 rookies. The Hawks alone have played their rookies over 7,000 minutes this season. Additionally, for the first season in NBA history, four 21-year-olds (or younger) are on pace to average 21+ points per game: Trae Young, Luka Doncic, Zion Williamson, and Jayson Tatum.
As we begin to see the twilight of his career inch closer - arguably the game’s best player, LeBron James, told ESPN the league was in good hands moving forward. The 3-time NBA champion cited players like Luka Doncic, Trae Young, Jason Tatum, and others. Few can understand the pressure and gravity of success as a youngster like James. He graced the cover of Sports Illustrated as a senior in high school and scored his first career points at the age of 18 against the Sacramento Kings in one of the most highly anticipated debuts in all of sports.
Young believes time will yield him as the better of the two players a decade down the line, telling Bleacher Report"In my eyes, it's not a question—it's going to be me. But that's just the competitive nature in my blood, and I think that's the no-brainer with me."
Just like in their rookie campaign Young is getting better as the season goes on. The point guard is averaging 31 points per game since January 1st to Doncic’s 28 points per contest. Trae has also surged up to second on the league’s list of assist leaders, dishing 9.3 per game to Doncic’s 8.8. It looks like Trae has the edge for the moment but Luka is an inevitable tidal wave, coming at any moment to recapture the narrative. Regardless of who you think is better, the two are both arguably Top 10 players in year two which is pretty spectacular and we should just sit back and enjoy this battle for seasons to come. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban recently teamed up with well known sneaker customizer The Shoe Surgeon to create an exclusive Air Jordan 4 pack in celebration of Luka Doncic's 21st birthday. One of the AJ4s, which we previewed earlier this week, pulls on inspiration from Playstation and Luka's favorite game, Fortnite, while the other pair comes in a Dallas Mavericks colorway. Of course, The Cubes got himself a pair of the Mavs 4s as well - but the Fortnite design is a one-of-one for the Slovenian sensation. According to The Shoe Surgeon, the Fortnite 4s come equipped with a custom Battle Royale dog tag in addition to the laser-etched Playstation detailing and UV blacklight midsoles. The scaly, Dallas-inspired colorways were assembled with a custom woven label on the tongue etched with Luka's draft date, custom monogrammed heel tabs and velcro tongue patches. Not to mention, the kicks came with a drawstring backpack patched together with three different Mavs jerseys. Take a closer look at the commemorative kicks in the video embedded below. Kristaps Porzingis has been having a solid season with the Dallas Mavericks. After coming back from injury, Porzingis has proven to be a piece that the Mavericks have been missing for a while. Not to mention, the presence of Luka Doncic has suddenly turned this squad into legitimate playoff contenders. At this point, it's safe to say the Mavericks will make the playoffs, even if they aren't a top seed right now. They've built enough of a cushion that the playoffs aren't exactly a pipe dream. After last night's big overtime win against the New Orleans Pelicans, Porzingis was asked about the atmosphere and whether or not it matched that of a playoff game. Porzingis came through with a hilarious yet brutally honest answer that harkens back to his days with the abysmal New York Knicks. “I mean, I wish I had that experience to tell you," Porzingis said to a laughing crowd of journalists. While his answer may have been truthful, you can tell there was certainly some pain behind it. Porzingis used to be one of the few reasons to watch the Knicks but was traded last season after he requested a move. Moving forward, Doncic and Porzingis could be one of the league's premier dynamic duos. Luka Doncic has been one of the most exciting players in the NBA over the past couple of years and he continues to dominate the NBA, in just his second season. His play has helped lead the Dallas Mavericks to a playoff spot and if the team continues to build, they could very well become contenders in just a few years from now. Unfortunately, Doncic has been experiencing some injury woes this season. He hurt his ankle early in the season and eventually came back better than ever. Recently, he hurt his ankle again and has missed the last two games. While speaking to Callie Caplan of the Dallas Morning News, Doncic admitted that his injury has been lingering for a while and that it still isn't 100 percent. If you're a Mavericks fan, these comments have to give you pause. “I mean, it bothers me sometimes," Doncic said. "Obviously, it’s not healed 100%. That’s why I missed the game in Atlanta. It was swollen and, you know, I’m just trying to keep the swelling down.” The Mavericks are currently seventh in the Western Conference with a record of 35-23 and are 9 games ahead of 9th place. With this in mind, the Mavericks have a solid cushion moving forward, despite not having Doncic in the lineup. Despite a ton of promise coming into the season, the Sacramento Kings have been downright abysmal this year. The Kings are one of those franchises that never seem to prosper no matter how hard they try. Last night was yet another example of that as they fell to the Dallas Mavericks by a score of 130-111. Perhaps the worst moment of the night was in the third quarter when Kings head coach Luke Walton received a technical foul for blasting the officials. At one point, Walton looked over at Mavs star Luka Doncic and told him to give the ref his autograph since he's clearly a fan. Of course, Walton was implying the ref was giving him easy calls. According to those who saw the exchange take place, Doncic went over to Walton and simply said "don't do that." After the game, Doncic spoke about the incident saying stuff like that happens all the time and that it was "nothing special." Walton also went on to comment about the whole ordeal where he said: “I have all the respect in the world for Luka. He got what he wanted tonight, wherever he wanted. I wasn’t saying anything to him. I don’t know if he thought I said something to him." If there is one thing for sure here, it's that Doncic got the last laugh. The Mavericks look destined to make it all the way to the playoffs and Doncic has been downright MVP-worthy, when he's healthy. Luka Doncic has been one of the most impressive young stars in the entire NBA over the past couple of years and every single night, his profile continues to rise. The Dallas Mavericks are looking like a serious playoff team thanks to Doncic and as we approach the postseason, Doncic seems to be a real threat to win the coveted Most Valuable Player award. Regardless of how you feel about Doncic, there is no denying he is a star who has the potential to achieve superstar status. Last night, Doncic achieved another incredible feat as he became the youngest player in NBA history to achieve a statline above 20 points, 15 rebounds, and 15 assists. He finished the game with 25 points, 15 rebounds, and 17 assists as the Mavericks defeated the Sacramento Kings. Doncic and his teammates have a real shot at doing some damage in the playoffs and if he continues to put up performances like this, he will be in a great position moving forward. Not to mention, his contract with Jordan Brand will certainly help raise his profile moving forward. At this point, records such as this one might seem meaningless although they speak to just how much potential Doncic has. If he keeps this up, the NBA will be in a great place for years to come. Snoop Dogg is one of the most passionate Los Angeles Lakers fans in the entire world and when he sees something he doesn’t like, he is quick to comment on it. The latest thing/person to get on Snoop’s nerves is none other than Dallas Mavericks superstar, Luka Doncic. Doncic has been one of the best young players in the league as of late and is already starting to get some lofty praise. Doncic has been compared to Michael Jordan and LeBron James while also being hailed the best 20-year-old to ever play the game. On Friday night, the Lakers defeated the Mavericks in a blowout that saw Doncic struggle for much of the game. Snoop used this as an opportunity to take to Instagram where he roasted Doncic and said the league has gotten “soft.” Snoop says people are overreacting when it comes to Doncic and that his name shouldn’t be used in the same breath as LeBron’s. Doncic certainly has a lot to prove so Snoop’s comments here shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. The Mavs sophomore has yet to make it to the playoffs and until he gets some experience, he won’t be able to make much of a case for himself when it comes to being included in GOAT conversations. The Mavs star certainly has phenomenal potential but some of these takes have been a bit too premature. Luka Doncic has been one of the best young players in the NBA ever since he was drafted back in 2018. Coming from the European leagues, there was no guarantee that Doncic would be as good as he is now. Regardless, Doncic has surpassed all expectations and if he leads the Mavericks to the playoffs, there is a real chance he could win NBA MVP. At just 20 years old, Doncic is receiving some pretty lofty comparisons, particularly to guys like Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Doncic has been fairly humble about his success and recently spoke about his feelings towards these comparisons. The Mavericks superstar is fairly reserved about the LeBron comparison and believes he still has a long way to go before he can receive such an honor. After all, it’s only his second year in the league. “I’m nowhere near that,” Doncic said per Dwain Price of Mavs.com. “I’m 20 years old and this is my second year in the league. Anything can happen, so I’ve got to prove a lot.” If you’re a Mavericks fan, the future is certainly bright in Dallas. Kristaps Porzingis and Luka Doncic are a great one-two punch and are in a great position to create a Western Conference contender for years to come. Luka Doncic has been a phenomenal young talent for the Dallas Mavericks. Last season, Doncic was named rookie of the year and this season, he continues to be one of the best players in the league. Doncic is an early candidate for the MVP trophy especially when you consider how the Mavericks have been overachieving in his presence. At 20 years old, Doncic has been nothing short of dominant and continues to impress fans with not just his shooting but his playmaking as well. ESPN's Max Kellerman is a huge fan of Doncic's game and has been very complimentary on First Take. During Wednesday's episode of First Take, Kellerman said: "Luka Doncic is the best 20-year-old player in the history of the NBA." While this may seem like a bit of a reach, the stats seem to back it up quite a bit. Doncic has been able to take down some of the league's best teams this season and fans are excited to see how we will develop over the next few years. In fact, some pundits believe he has the potential to be better than Dirk Nowitzki which would certainly be a huge accomplishment. Only time will tell whether or not Doncic will be able to lead the Mavs to a second championship.
Luka Doncic’s "Fortnite" Air Jordan 4 Exclusive Unveiled
The Shoe Surgeon gives a detailed look at Luka Doncic's "Fortnite" Air Jordan 4 custom, as well as his Dallas Mavs' exclusive.
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The Shoe Surgeon
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