Luka Doncic is one of the most electrifying players in the NBA today. Just last season alone, the European superstar averaged 32.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, and eight assists, easily making an All-NBA First Team. Beyond that, one thing that amazes many people about Doncic is that his already dominant play actually improves in the playoffs. So far, Doncic’s career has consisted of three playoff runs, each of which featured unbelievable performances from the Slovenian point guard. Here is a breakdown of Doncic’s incredible playoff career so far.
2020 Playoff Run
The 2020 Playoffs in the Bubble marked Doncic’s first year in the playoffs. As a seventh seed, the Mavericks faced off against the 2nd-seeded Clippers in the First Round. The Clippers were favored to win the title, with a dominant defensive team led by Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Many thought that Doncic’s impressive sophomore season would dip in the playoffs, especially against a team like the Clippers. However, Doncic actually improved upon it.
After averaging 28.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 8.8 assists during the regular season, he upped it to 31.0 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 8.7 assists. He unexpectedly pushed a title favorite team to six games. To top it all off, he had an all time great performance in Game 4 against the Clippers when he dropped 43 points, 17 rebounds, 13 assists, and hit a buzzer-beating three pointer to tie the series at 2-2. While the Mavericks expectedly lost the series, it was clear that Doncic was a generational talent who had much potential ahead of him.
2021 Playoff Run
The 2021 Playoffs saw Doncic and the Mavericks rematch the Clippers in the First Round, this time as a 5th seed. Through the first two games of the series, the Mavericks shocked the NBA by taking a 2-0 lead on the Clippers, despite the Clippers having home court advantage. In those two games, Doncic combined for 70 points and was torching every defender that the Clippers had, including star-caliber two-way players like Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
However, the series would follow a very unusual path in which neither home team won a single game through the first six games. In Game 7, Doncic had a spectacular performance in which he dropped 46 points, which was the second most points in a Game 7 ever at the time. Despite his heroic efforts, the Mavericks lost Game 7 to the Clippers. But this series once again proved that Doncic does not falter when the playoffs arrive.
2022 Playoff Run
In the final game of the 2022 season, Doncic suffered an unfortunate calf sprain that caused him to miss the first three games of the 2022 playoffs in which the fourth-seeded Mavericks faced off against the 5th-seeded Jazz. When he returned in Game 4, the Mavericks had taken a 2-1 lead on the Jazz, so Doncic was in perfect position to win his first playoff series. After defeating the Jazz in six games, Doncic faced off against a 64-win Suns team who were overwhelmingly favored to win the series. Through the first two games, things were going as expected with the Suns taking a 2-0 lead on the Mavericks, despite a 45 point performance from Doncic in Game 1.
However, the Mavericks would end up tying the series on their home court. After losing Game 5 to the Suns, Doncic would have a great elimination performance in Game 6 in which he dropped 33 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists. In Game 7, Doncic led the Mavericks to the most historic Game 7 victory ever by an underdog team. In this game, Doncic embarrassed the Suns with a 27 point first half performance, which matched the total points of the entire Suns team at halftime. Doncic ultimately finished the game with 35 points in three quarters in a 33 point blowout of the Suns.
Even more impressively, Doncic led both teams in every major statistical category except blocks through the entirety of the series. In the Conference Finals, the Mavericks would lose in five games to the eventual champion Warriors, but Doncic still averaged about 32 points, nine rebounds, and six assists. In the entirety of the Mavericks unexpectedly deep playoff run, Doncic averaged 31.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game.
Conclusion
So early in his career, Doncic is clearly showing himself to be a potential GOAT candidate as he continues to grow. In only three playoff appearances, Doncic already has the second highest playoff PPG average, only behind Michael Jordan. When he has a contending roster by his side, it will only be a matter of time until Doncic wins his first championship and Finals MVP.
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