The Dallas Mavericks superstar guard Luka Doncic received the perfect compliment from Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero.

“Gangster,” Banchero said when asked how he would describe Doncic in one word.

Banchero doesn’t mess around with Doncic. Since arriving in the league in 2018, he’s already built quite the resume. A five-time All-NBA selection, in addition to being named Rookie of the Year in 2018, Doncic also led the league in scoring during the 2023-24 season (33.9 points per game).

Although the end of the 2022-23 season resulted in the absence of the playoffs, Kyrie Irving warned about partnering with Doncic for years. It’s safe to say that the partnership works well. The following season, the Mavericks reached the NBA Finals. Despite a loss to the Boston Celtics, Doncic himself had an incredible run in the playoffs. He averaged 28.9 points, 9.5 assists and 8.7 rebounds in 40.9 minutes per game.

The numbers look like they came straight out of a video game, but that’s how Doncic plays. He also led the NBA playoffs in points per game in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons, with 35.7 and 31.7, respectively. Doncic’s eye-popping numbers and offensive prowess make him a true “gangster” in the eyes of many NBA insiders.

Has anyone other than Paolo Banchero complimented Mavericks’ Luka Doncic?

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Current and former NBA players have paid tribute to the Slovenian superstar, particularly former Philadelphia 76ers point guard and Hall of Famer Allen Iverson. AI has previously appeared on The Big Podcast and praised Doncic’s 73-point performance against the Atlanta Hawks earlier in the 2023-24 season.

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Iverson explained that Doncic’s style is reminiscent of streetball, mixed with that of a pro. Additionally, Shaquille O’Neal added to Iverson’s remark by saying that Doncic has style when he plays. Shooting behind the backboard, crazy ball handling, and Doncic playing at his exact pace are just a few examples of the style he possesses.

The Mavericks received other compliments during their NBA Finals run. Jamal Crawford, a three-time Sixth Man of the Year, played the closest thing to streetball. His combination of elite control, tough shots and simply getting his defenders on skates made him one of the best. Crawford used the same word that Banchero used to describe Doncic: “Gangster.”

Crawford and Iverson are two of the guys in NBA history who embody the word swag. They know how gangster Doncic is on the basketball court. Irving has also seen Doncic be really dominant since joining the Mavericks. Irving mentioned how his teammate perfects all the flashy and streetball moves every day in practice.

As the Mavericks look to enter the 2024-25 season, Doncic will look to once again bring that “gangster” aura to a team aiming for another NBA Finals appearance.

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