Luka Dončić Left Off Mavericks All-Time List by Former Teammate

Luka Dončić Left Off Mavericks All-Time List by Former Teammate

Naji Marshall and Luka Doncic were teammates for only half a season. Marshall joined the Mavericks before the start of the 2024-25 season. Midway through the season, Doncic was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis. That might be a reason why Marshall doesn’t believe Doncic belongs in the all-timestarting five for the Mavericks. Asked to name his all-time starting five for the Mavericks, Marshall listed Jason Kidd, Kyrie Irving, Michael Finley, Tyson Chandler, and Nowitzki.

Surprisingly, Luka didn’t make the list, even though he has spent more years in Dallas than Irving. He has also enjoyed the most individual success as the leader of the time aside from Nowitzki. Maybe the wounds in Dallas are still fresh, but Doncic was not the one who left the team. It seems like his former teammate might be a bit sour about the whole situation.

How Luka Compares to the All-Time Starting Five by Naji?

Looking at the list, we can say that the forward spots are well deserved. We can debate whether Doncic can play a small forward role instead of Finley even if he’s rarely played there, but he should be a guard on the Mavs’ all-time starting five.

The franchise has been to the NBA Finals only three times, and to the Western Conference Finals six times. Doncic, as the leading player on the Mavs, has guided them to two of those Western Conference Finals and one NBA Finals appearance. Nowitzki guided them to two NBA Finals appearances, winning a title in 2011.

The debate is between Irving, Kidd, and Doncic, and which two should take the starting guard spots. We have to admit Kidd is a more accomplished player, but he enjoyed most of his success with the New Jersey Nets. Kidd won the Rookie of the Year award in Dallas, but was then traded to the Suns, and from there, he wound up on the Nets. He eventually came back to Dallas, but wasn’t as prolific during his second stint with the team.

Doncic, on the other hand, has had a streak of five consecutive All-NBA first team selections, something even Nowitzki hasn’t accomplished in a Mavericks uniform. In fact, Nowitzki has four such selections in total, and more second and third team selections (eight combined). Kidd, for example, has four consecutive first team selections and five in total. Three of those were with the Phoenix Suns, and two with the Nets.

Picking Irving over Doncic is another insult. Irving was the second-best player on the team when he shared the court with Doncic. Irving has three All-NBA selections, and none of them were on the first team. More importantly, he has been part of the Mavs for only two and a half seasons.

Maybe Naji Marshall is trying to make the fit work, but Luka Doncic is such a great player that he can fit with anybody. In fact, he played with Dirk during his rookie season.