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Dallas Mavericks: Luka Doncic Draws Michael Jordan, Tom Brady-Level Praise From Jason Kidd in Game 1 Win Vs. Timberwolves

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Paolo Songco | Last updated 5/23/24

Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic is currently having arguably the best season of his entire NBA career. The fact that he was a finalist for this year’s MVP title is a clear testament to this notion.

What is also true is that the Mavs guard has made his mark this season with his tremendous play on the offensive end. This is exactly why it was a pleasant surprise for Dallas supporters when Doncic turned into a lockdown defensive specialist in their Game 1 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night.

Dallas Mavericks News: Luka Doncic Puts on the Clamps on Rudy Gobert

Doncic wasn’t exactly a Defensive Player of the Year candidate throughout the Western Conference Finals series opener on Wednesday. However, the 25-year-old stepped it up on the defensive end when it mattered the most.

This involved Luka preventing what would have been an open layup for Wolves big man Rudy Gobert down low:

WATCH LUKA DONCIC ON DEFENSE. pic.twitter.com/kbf5VwhyfD

— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) May 23, 2024

What an effort from the Doncic, who also ended up scoring a crucial basket on the opposite end on the succeeding play:

33 points… 19 in the 2nd half!

Luka Doncic and the Mavs seek a 1-0 series lead down the stretch of the 4Q on TNT! pic.twitter.com/ONlu65OCgw

— NBA (@NBA) May 23, 2024

Jason Kidd Reacts to Luka Doncic’s Defense in Game 1

After the game, Mavs head coach Jason Kidd had nothing but high praise for his superstar. According to the Dallas shot-caller, Doncic is just the type who is capable of doing whatever he needs to do to help his team win:

“It’s the Luka shoes,” Kidd said. “It’s gotta be the Luka shoes. Those are special shoes. Like MJ has special shoes, Luka has special shoes. … Special players make special plays, and a lot of the time it’s not on the offensive end.”

"Special players make special plays and a lot of the time it's not on the offensive end."

– Coach Jason Kidd on Luka's lockdown defense in Game 1 of the West Finals ️ pic.twitter.com/7AglB342OM

— NBA (@NBA) May 23, 2024

Kidd didn’t exactly say that Doncic is Michael Jordan’s second coming, but he did compare Luka’s “special shoes” to that of the six-time NBA champion. In case you missed it, Kidd also made special mention of Tom Brady and his infamous 40-yard dash at his NFL combine as the Mavs coach talked about Luka’s intense physicality — or rather, the lack thereof.

That’s hitting GOATs with one stone.