“The Numbers That Talk” is the section where we at The Sporting News relate a statistic to the context behind it. Our goal; Answer questions, discover hidden truths and reveal why some numbers are more important than others.
Starring today is Mavericks star Luka Doncic.
5.0
According to NBA Stats, these are the points per game he scores. Luka Doncic at the low post this season. Why is this important? Not only is that way up from last season (2.4), but it’s one of the highest percentages in the league.
That’s right: Doncic is in the same class as the indoors Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo when it comes to how often he scores with his back to the rim. The Slovenian has also been incredibly efficient as he scores 1.07 points per possession in those actions, ranking in the 71st percentile.
To put that into context, a Doncic post project is currently more valuable than LeBron James running into the open court, Ja Morant running a pick-and-roll, or Klay Thompson coming off a block.
| pos. | Player | points per game | Possession points | percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Joel Embiid | 5.6 | 1.08 | 72 |
| two. | Nikola Jokic | 5.1 | 1.10 | 77 |
| 3. | Luka Doncic | 5.0 | 1.07 | 71 |
| Four. | Jusuf Nurkic | 4.8 | 0.89 | 3. 4 |
| 5. | sion Williamson | 4.3 | 1.03 | 62 |
| 6. | deandre ayton | 4.1 | 1.02 | 60 |
| 7. | Kristaps Porzingis | 3.7 | 1.10 | 78 |
| 8. | Anthony Davis | 3.5 | 0.90 | 35 |
| 9. | Nikola Vucevic | 3.4 | 0.95 | 51 |
| 10. | Jonas Valanciunas | 3.3 | 0.99 | 55 |
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These numbers show how much work Doncic has put into this, who despite his young age (23) shows there is no limit to his growth.
The former Real Madrid he is a difficult matchup for most outsiders due to his size. And it is that when he decides to change the fate of a match, he can pass over a smaller opponent or punish the mismatch against someone older.
If Doncic can get to the paint, it’s game over. He has been one of the best goaltenders since he stepped foot in the NBA and this season is no exception.
If watching him dominate Jordan Clarkson isn’t enough, maybe watching him do it against Bol Bol might be.
And the best? That he learns from the best in the low post game in recent history. Does this move ring a bell?
You don’t have to go far…
And what about that?
A pretty noticeable influence:
Doncic works his way with his back to the rim like a modern Hakeem Olajuwon. His feet are absolutely elite.
The former Madrid man is not as tall as Dirk Nowitzki, as explosive as Kobe Bryant or even as fluid as Olajuwon, but borrowing some of his moves gives him the weapons to score against almost anyone. To get past his opponents, the Slovenian is a genius who knows how to create situations to force free kicks. Doncic has been fouled in one-fifth of his shots this season, one of the highest rates in the NBA.
The icing on the cake is that Doncic is also in the conversation for the best passer in the league. The same size that helps him cut through all kinds of defenders allows him to track the field and spot any cracks. If a double defense is thrown at him, he’ll deal with it immediately.
Not many players touch the ball more than Doncic per game, but he rarely makes a mistake when operating from the post. It has only lost it to 7.1% of its holdings here, which is one of the lowest percentages in the league.
To recap: The Mavs star can score against almost any opponent, make every pass possible, draw a ton of fouls and almost never commit a turnover. No wonder his effectiveness is through the roof.
Doncic has shown he’s a capable player in the past, but he’s turned up the intensity a lot this season, going from more of a simple goalscorer to an all-out dominant one.
Many players have seen him do the same in the past, not necessarily as early in his career as Luca. For example, only when he started to lose some of his athletic ability Michael Jordan He vowed to focus his game there. The same as Kobe Bryant. Their prowess here made them more complete scorers and helped extend their best.
Once again, Doncic is only 23 years old. He was already one of the most dominant offensive players in the NBA, and yet he continues to find new ways to level up.
The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of the NBA or its organizations.
