Dallas Mavericks: Why Luka Doncic will be the best player in NBA Orlando

Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic is going to be the NBA’s best player in Orlando

Dallas Mavericks fans will get to see Luka Doncic leading the team later this summer. The NBA finalized their restart plan, and it passed a Board of Governor’s vote on Thursday. 22 teams will be playing in Orlando starting with eight regular season games each. There will be a play-in for the final spot in both conferences before the traditional playoffs tip-off.

This scenario was the best one on the table for the Mavs. It gives Dallas eight games to move up in the Western Conference standings. They could jump multiple teams in Orlando. The Mavericks cannot move back either. They are seven games up on the Grizzlies already. There is virtually no chance they slip to eighth. Fans can read more about why it is the perfect plan for the Mavs here.

The NBA is coming back. Fans will get to see how Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis perform in their first playoff experience. That alone should be exciting for supporters. Things are about to get better, though.

Luka became a superstar in his second NBA season. The reigning Rookie of the Year started his first All-Star game and found his way into the MVP conversation. He also led the Mavericks back into the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

Luka Doncic is going to be the NBA’s best player over the conclusion of the 2019-2020 season in Orlando. Here are five reasons why the 21-year-old will pull it off.

Next: No. 5

5. Why Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic will be best in Orlando: Fast starter

It seems like years ago now, but do not forget that Doncic was the MVP favorite in the early going this season. He won Player of the Month for the games in October and November. Through his first 18 contests, Luka produced 30.8 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 9.6 assists a night including averaging a 30-point triple-double per game in the month of November.

He barely slowed down over the first 24 games. It was an ankle injury in the first two minutes of a contest against the Heat that stopped the incredible run. Luka battled various injuries up until the NBA suspended play on March 11. The fourth-plus month hiatus will have the 21-year-old fully healthy to begin training camp.

It is not just this season either. Doncic got out of the gate strong as a rookie too. The efficiency slipped down the stretch as he was asked to do more after the trade deadline. Fatigue likely played a factor too.

The NBA’s suspension opens the door for Luka Doncic to get a second start to this season. He always comes out of the blocks fast, so the rest of the NBA should be on notice.

Next: No. 4

4. Why Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic will be best in Orlando: Youth

This aspect could play into the Mavs favor more than any other. They are a young team. Luka Doncic turned 21 years old in February. Kristaps Porzingis is 24. The only players on the Mavericks roster over 30 are J.J. Barea, Courtney Lee, and Boban Marjanovic. All three players figure to be on the fringes of the rotation in the playoffs.

The NBA is going to attempt to wrap up the season in the “campus” environment in Orlando as fast as possible. The novel coronavirus remains a significant threat. Expect health and safety to be a priority. The league will do everything they can to keep players from getting sick, and the threat will speed things up.

Adrian Wojnarowski reported the remaining regular season games will be played over 16 days. That means participating in eight games. Then comes the playoffs likely with one-day rest in between each game. That will be a lot of action in a short window.

What team will handle that better than the Dallas Mavericks? Is any player more equipped to thrive in a compressed schedule than the 21-year-old Luka Doncic? No superstar is younger. The Mavs youth could be massive in Orlando.

Next: No. 3

3. Why Luka Doncic will be best in Orlando: Healthy Dallas Mavericks

The lengthy hiatus also allowed ample time for players to get healthy. The Mavericks should head into Orlando at nearly full strength. Only two players figure to be sidelined.

Dwight Powell suffered a torn Achilles in January. He will be out until the start of the 2020-2021 season.

Jalen Brunson is the question mark. He had shoulder surgery days after the NBA suspended play. The timeline was four to six months. Brunson could be ready in time for the playoffs in Orlando. That will be a storyline to follow as training camp kicks off next month.

The rest of the Mavericks should be at full strength. That means a healthy Kristaps Porzingis. His knees had time to rest, and the rust was knocked off in the first 67 games. KP’s All-Star form returned just before play was suspended. A fast-starting Doncic and the Unicorn could form the most dynamic duo in Orlando.

They will have a healthy supporting cast flanking them too. Seth Curry and Tim Hardaway Jr. will be spacing the floor and creating headaches for the opposition. Dorian Finney-Smith and Maxi Kleber have the defensive tasks on lockdown. It will be interesting to see what this Mavs team can accomplish.

Next: No. 2

2. Why Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic will be best in Orlando: Can’t be stopped

Doncic has become nearly unstoppable this season. Mavericks fans know he decided to attack the basket more and improved his finishing in the paint. Wonder Boy averages 28.7 points per game while shooting 75.4 percent within three feet of the hoop. That unlocked a new level and also set off the Mavs offense. Luka led them to the highest offensive rating in NBA history during their 67 games before the suspension.

The 21-year-old also produces the best stat line in the NBA. Doncic and Russell Westbrook are the only two players in the top 20 in points, assists, and rebounds per game this season. The Mavericks star leads the league with 14 triple-doubles too.

He is impossible to stop. Luka has been held to single-digit points just once this season. That was the night he was injured less than two minutes into the game. Doncic has scored less than 20 points four times. He finished with 19 points in two of those games. Teams are just trying to slow him and the Mavericks down at this point.

A massive short sample stat line plus a deep playoff run could make Luka Doncic the top player during the NBA’s return in Orlando. The 21-year-old has a lot of signs pointing toward it.

Next: No. 1

1. Why Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic will be best in Orlando: Continues improving

No player in the NBA is improving faster than Luka Doncic. The 21-year-old went from good to great over the last offseason. He basically had a second one during the suspension in play.

Doncic traveled back to Europe. There has been no official word as to why, but reports are he has been training and playing pickup games. Luka could have jumped levels again. Although it is not likely, that fact is at least on the table, right?

Even if all fans get is a healthy Doncic, that is one of the best players in the NBA. He proved that over the first 24 games of this season. Now add in a packed schedule that is going to favor young talent, and Luka could quickly become the NBA’s best player as the season wraps up in Orlando.

Add it to the list of reasons why no team is going to want to face the Dallas Mavericks in the playoffs. The NBA will return this summer. Mavs supporters are not going to want to miss it. The Smoking Cuban will continue bringing them all the latest news, opinions, and analysis too. Stay tuned.