Dallas Mavericks: Is Luka Doncic the best second-year player since 2000?

Is Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic best second-year player: Advanced metrics

Let us couch this by saying, that Doncic only played in 54 games this season. He missed 13 with injuries and the novel coronavirus wiped out the rest. The eight seeding games in Orlando will count towards his statistics, so things could change.

Luka puts up strong advanced metrics. He is ninth in win shares per 48 minutes, sixth in box score plus/minus, and seventh in value over replacement player (VORP) in the NBA this season. Where do his numbers stack up against the best second-year players?

Seven second-year players since 2000 have posted a win shares per 48 minutes over 0.200. Doncic ranks second among them to Nikola Jokic. The Nuggets star only played 27.9 minutes per game, though. Luka rated above LeBron, KAT, Anthony Davis, and the rest of the field in this category.

Doncic and King James were the only two players to post a box score plus/minus over eight. LeBron edged Luka by 0.2 to take the top spot.

James was the runaway winner in VORP. Luka finished seventh behind Vince Carter, Steve Francis, Towns, Dwyane Wade, and Jokic.

After looking at the advanced metrics, it is clear that LeBron James and Luka Doncic are leading the race for the best second-year player since 2000. Let us take a look at winning.

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