Dallas Mavs' Luka Doncic Compares to Michael Jordan & LeBron: 'Best Offensive Player Ever!' - Van Gundy

Former NBA coach Stan Van Gundy had the highest praise for Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic.

Few people have seen more basketball than former NBA head coach Stan Van Gundy.

Van Gundy has been an NBA head coach for 13 seasons spanning across four different teams; the Miami Heat (2003-2006), Orlando Magic (2007-2012), Detroit Pistons (2014-2018) and New Orleans Pelicans (2020-2021). Van Gundy was on the Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz and was asked if Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic is the best offensive player in NBA history.

While the former head coach said Jokic is among the best offensive players at his position, Van Gundy's answer to Le Batard's question was Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic.

Apr 2, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77).

Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

"The best offensive player now that I have ever seen is Luka Doncic," Van Gundy said. "I don't think there's anything the guy can't do offensively. The guy is huge first of all, he's 6-foot-8 and big. He shoots the ball from deep...He's become a more consistent shooter from range. His range is incredible and he's been very efficient shooting the ball."

Van Gundy added: "He can drive the ball from the perimeter, he can score in the post and he's one of the best passers we have ever had in the league. There is literally no one who can match up with him, and when you bring the second defender he can pick you apart."

Doncic is having the best season of his NBA career, averaging 33.9 points, 9.8 assists and 9.2 rebounds per game. Doncic's play has him only trailing Jokic in the NBA MVP race this season. The Mavs have gone 19-6 since the all-star break and they have reached 50 wins for just the second time since the 2014-15 season. In the 25-game stretch, Doncic has averaged 32.7 points, 10.4 assists and 10.1 rebounds per game.

Van Gundy even went on to compare Doncic's offensive prowess to two of the greatest offensive players to ever play, Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Even among the two all-time greats, Van Gundy would take Doncic.

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"I'm not trying to demean Michael Jordan or LeBron James in any way, but Luka Doncic to me is at a different level offensively," Van Gundy said.

Anytime a player echoed in the same breath as Jordan and James in a positive light, it's proof of how good they are. In this instance, Van Gundy saying he believes Doncic is better offensively than James and Jordan is the ultimate compliment and shows just how good the Mavs guard is and where his potential among the all-time greats could lie if he continues on this trajectory.