LeBron James’ record as the NBA’s leading scorer may make the 2022–23 season exciting, but Luka Doncic ruled out breaking it.
The Dallas Mavericks star, after all, has faced historic numbers since arriving in the United States.
However, in a press conference last Wednesday, Doncic broke expectations about playing many years in the league.
“There is always a possibility, but it will be very difficult [to play 20 years in the NBA]. Being a guy who plays for 20 years the way LeBron maintains his body is tough. So without basketball skills, it’s very difficult to maintain that body.” Doncic said.
“You can say there’s no way, because I’m not playing much. But it’s amazing to see him. It’s his 20th season and he’s scoring 30 or 40 points every night.” Doncic added.
So far, James is 433 points away from surpassing Kareen Abdul-Jabbar as the all-time leading scorer in league history.
Doncic, unlike LeBron James, is part of the new generation of the NBA. The point guard, incidentally, is seen by many as the next “face” of the league.
After all, he was already a global sensation before coming to the United States. He has been dominant since being drafted by the Mavericks in 2018.
The similarities to LeBron, then, show up in their on-court roles. When James was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003, he carried the franchise. The same scenario is seen with Luka and Dallas.
Even if there is no certainty about his longevity in the NBA, what Doncic has been doing for more than four seasons is significant. In the current campaign, in fact, he has some of his best numbers.
The star has played in 37 of the Mavericks’ 40 games this season. As a result, he averages 34 points with 49.9% success in pitching.
These numbers, therefore, are the best of his career. But not only that. The ace has an average close to a triple-double, as he takes 8.8 rebounds and distributes 8.7 assists per game.
