Mavericks: 3 Reasons Ja Morant isn't on Luka Doncic's level

The Dallas Mavericks just reached the conference finals behind another incredible playoff performance from Luka Doncic. He averaged 31.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 1.8 steals as he lifted his team over the Jazz and top-seeded Suns before falling to the eventual champion Warriors in the final four. Number 77 made his case for best player in the world as nobody predicted Dallas to make it that far.

Doncic is unquestionably a top-five player in the NBA right now. The 23-year-old already has three first-team All-NBA honors to his name, and he just keeps improving. Luka enters this season as the favorite to win MVP and with his eyes set on leading the Mavericks to their second championship in franchise history.

Doncic topped the FanSided 25-under-25 for two straight years, but he shockingly slipped to second behind Ja Morant this year. Here is a look at why that was a mistake, and how there is no case to be made that the Grizzlies superstar is a better player or has a brighter future than Luka.

Why Ja Morant isn’t on Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic’s level: 3. Accomplishments

Both players won Rookie of the Year with Luka taking the honors in 2019 and Morant the following year, but the Grizzlies guard made the All-Star and All-NBA teams for the first time last season. Morant was second-team All-NBA behind Doncic and Suns guard Devin Booker. That was Luka’s third first-team honor in four years, which is something Morant has yet to accomplish.

Ja made the playoffs for the second time in his career last season and he won his first postseason series, but he has never made it past the second round. Luka just led his team to the conference finals and has three postseason appearances under his belt.

Morant did win Most Improved Player last season, but Doncic was so good from the moment he entered the league that he was never in the running for that award. All of that makes zero mention of Luka’s accomplishments in Europe, including winning EuroLeague and Liga ACB MVP.

Luka Doncic certainly has a better current resume than Ja Morant, and that edge won’t be flipping to the Grizzlies guard anytime soon.