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Monty Williams Says Luka Doncic Is Like The New Magic Johnson
Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

In the aftermath of a rare Pistons win, head coach Monty Williams spoke up about Luka Doncic and his superstar trajectory. While Luka was unable to play in the game on Friday, Williams still had a lot to say about the Slovenian legend and even compared him to Magic Johnson.

“You run different defenses at him, you’re just hoping he messes up because he’s just that good, said Williams via Joey Mistretta. “He reminds me of Magic in that way. Those guys are big and have great vision.”

Magic Johnson is not a name to throw around lightly. The NBA Hall of Famer had a career that totaled 13 years and it included some of the finest individual performances of all time. By the time he retired in ‘96, Magic was a 5x champion, 12x All-Star, 3x MVP, and 10x All-NBA player. To this day, he’s recognized as arguably the greatest point guard in NBA history.

Luka Doncic still has a long way to go before he can reach Magic’s level but he’s off to a pretty good start so far. With averages of 28.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game, Doncic is already outpacing Magic in his first five seasons.

Since the very beginning, Luka has proven himself as one of the best and his skill set is undeniable for even his staunchest critics. Now all that’s left is to bring a championship back to Dallas and prove to the world that he can win when it matters most.

It’s Now Or Never For The Dallas Mavericks

After trading their last remaining assets for Kyrie Irving, Daniel Gafford, and others, the Mavericks are limited in their moves for the foreseeable future. Whether they like it or not, the Mavericks have to push on with the guys they’ve got and this season is arguably the best chance they’ll have.

For the first time since coming together, both Luka and Irving are healthy and have been mostly consistent with their availability for months now. The pair seems to have developed their chemistry to new heights and it’s made the Mavericks harder than ever to defend. This season, they are making a case as the best offensive duo in the league.

Most surprising has been Dallas’ defensive play defensively. After spending most of last season as one of the worst in that department, they’ve made significant strides thanks to their revamped frontcourt rotation that includes Gafford, Lively, and P.J. Washington.

Unfortunately for the Mavericks, they are set to face a challenging Clippers team in the very first round and it will take everything they have to come out alive. With an 0-2 playoff record against Los Angeles, Luka and the Mavericks will face one of their toughest fights yet this summer but if they can get through it, pass the test, and stay healthy in the process, it will be the ultimate sign that this Mavs team is ready for something more than an early playoff exit.

At the very least, Luka Doncic will have this team right in the thick of the title race and his presence alone gives Dallas a puncher’s chance in the Western Conference.

This article first appeared on Fadeaway World and was syndicated with permission.

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