The Dallas Mavericks center Derek Lively II was requested by former NBA player Theo Pinson to the Nike EYBL who has a deeper skill set between Luka Doncic And Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
“Who has the deeper bag? Luka or Shai?” Pinson asked.
Lively responded that the Mavericks win second round of playoffs over the Thunder is proof that his teammate Doncic is ahead of Shai.
The Nonconformists The center simply responded with confidence“Who won this match?”
Looking at the Thunder-Mavs series may not be the most accurate measure of who has the best skills or who is the best overall. While the Mavericks won the series in six games, Luka Doncic has faced significant challenges, battling various injuries.
Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous Alexander face off
Despite his scoring struggles, averaging 24.7 points, 10.5 rebounds and 8.7 assists, Doncic was essential to the team’s success. He excelled as a primary point guard, highlighting his vital role on the court.
Gilgeous-Alexander dominated for the Thunder, averaging 32.2 points, 8.0 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game. While he outplayed Luka in the series, his limitations in offensive creativity as a guard hampered his ability to elevate his teammates, especially when compared to how Doncic elevated P.J. Washington to a whole new level during the series.
Doncic’s regular-season production surpassed that of Gilgeous-Alexander, with the Mavericks superstar averaging 33.9 points, 9.2 rebounds and 9.8 assists for the 50-32 Mavericks, who rebounded from a slow start to finish among the NBA’s best teams.
Meanwhile, Shai led the Thunder to first place in the West with a 57-25 record, averaging 30.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 6.2 assists.
SGA finished second in MVP voting, slightly ahead of Doncic, who came in thirdwhich suggests that Shai could be considered slightly ahead of Doncic at the moment.
However, in the NBA playoffs, Doncic led a less talented Mavericks team to the NBA Finals, despite injuries that hampered his scoring output.
Despite the occasional defensive miscue, Luka has proven himself to be the best point guard in the NBA right now, although Shai is not far behind and could potentially take that title away from him.
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The 2018 NBA draft class is well stocked
The 2018 NBA Draft has been hailed as one of the best in recent memory, with Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander among its top players. Both are expected to sign new supermax contracts soon, after being named to the All-NBA First Team each of the last two seasons (five times for Doncic).
In the summer of 2025, Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be eligible to sign contracts worth $346 million with their respective teams. The magnitude of these deals is exceptional and likely unmatched by any other player in their highly talented draft class.
Former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. won’t get that type of deal, and Trae Young will have to make the All-NBA team to be eligible for such a contract.
Jalen Brunson opts for long-term extension with the New York Knicks at a discounted price, even though he was eligible for a $269 million contract next summer. The move should prompt fellow 2018 draft picks and current Knicks teammates Mikal Bridges and Donte DiVincenzo to follow suit.
Therefore, Luka and Shai are on the verge of landing the biggest contracts of their draft.
