Luka doesn't make those around him better.

[liam]

I don't think Luka makes those around him better. He's gone through a lot of teammates. You'd think a point guard would elevate those around him. I love Luka but he's a little too me first at this point in his career. I'm just throwing that out there...

[green_bballers13]

I think Luka's the most overrated player in the NBA.

He's out of shape and doesn't play defense well enough to be a top 15 player. I feel the same way about Trae Young, though I'm not sure if Young can ever be a good defender even with great effort. Much like the King of the 4th IT.

[liam]

I think Luka's the most overrated player in the NBA.

He's out of shape and doesn't play defense well enough to be a top 15 player. I feel the same way about Trae Young, though I'm not sure if Young can ever be a good defender even with great effort. Much like the King of the 4th IT.

He just seems to drive out a lot of talented players... I guess he's stuck with Kyrie now so that's its own punishment...

[Roy H.]

While he's probably not the most unbiased source, here's what Grant Williams said the other night:

“It’s great to get a win for the city and play for the jersey that’s across your chest, not on your back,” Williams told reporters as transcribed by MassLive’s Brian Robb. “Everybody touched the ball, we trusted one another, a team that never played, practiced together, every single person seemed like they had each other’s back.”

[Who]

Luka is like LeBron or Iverson. Luka makes role players better by creating easy scoring attempts for limited talents but is difficult for stars to play with because he is so ball dominant.

[Vermont Green]

Similar to early days of James Harden.  Just pound the ball and either create a shot or pass when you run out of other options.  It isn't a formula for winning basketball in general.  And probably not that fun to play with.  Grant should not be mouthing off about this though.

[liam]

Similar to early days of James Harden.  Just pound the ball and either create a shot or pass when you run out of other options.  It isn't a formula for winning basketball in general.  And probably not that fun to play with.  Grant should not be mouthing off about this though.

Grant has to be Grant.

[liam]

Brian Windhorst just stated how Spencer Dinwiddie turned down an offer to return to Dallas and How Kylie Kuzma vetoed a trade to Dallas before the trade deadline. Smoke?

[Phantom255x]

Brunson also left and became a legit star and almost superstar-like with the Knicks. Yes I know his role changed from being a #2 with Dallas to a #1 in NY, but he still looks way more comfortable and "unleashed" than he did in Dallas. Porzingis didn't work out in Dallas too even though the fit seemed great. I think there is truth to this. DFS left and thrived. Kyrie for the most part has actually handled it well in the past year but even then, DAL is mostly a 6-8 seeded team. Luka is better than Trae Young but both of them and their teams are kind of in a similar path, a middle of the pack team who can occasionally make a deep run (ATL in 2021 ECF, DAL in 2022 WCF).

[SHAQATTACK]

That’s the big diff why he isn’t Larry Bird or Magic

[liam]

That’s the big diff why he isn’t Larry Bird or Magic

Luka is still very young. I think the same age as when Bird came into the NBA. He seems happy putting up stats. Maybe he'll figure it out. I like Luka as a player but he has some growing up to do.

[RJ87]

I always come back to this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-lbmsrMbJ0

I think Luka's the most overrated player in the NBA.

He's out of shape and doesn't play defense well enough to be a top 15 player.

TP. I agree completely.

[liam]

I always come back to this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-lbmsrMbJ0

I think Luka's the most overrated player in the NBA.

He's out of shape and doesn't play defense well enough to be a top 15 player.

TP. I agree completely.

Luka is just playing like KP isn't there. Weird.

[RJ87]

I always come back to this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-lbmsrMbJ0

I think Luka's the most overrated player in the NBA.

He's out of shape and doesn't play defense well enough to be a top 15 player.

TP. I agree completely.

Luka is just playing like KP isn't there. Weird.

My opinion, but Luka's far more concerned with winning an MVP trophy than winning a championship and it shows in his play. Even with Kyrie in the mix, the Mavs are still too Luka-centric for the team to win. But because he barely plays defense and doesn't move without the ball, you have to have the ball in his hands for most of the game.

[Kernewek]

I think the general analysis here is correct, but I do think liam's got a point on the age thing - the guy is only 24, for context, that's Harden's second season in Houston, or Iverson's fourth season with Philly. Not either player's peak. James won his first MVP at 24, but he'd also been in the league since 18 and is by far the best player who's come up in this conversation save Bird.

And, while I don't think it's particularly fair to compare Luka with Bird, since it was mentioned: Bird was winning titles at 24/the 1980 season.