Jason Kidd reveals how Luka Doncic can become 'greatest Maverick ever'

Since beginning his career with the Dallas Mavericks in the 2018-19 season, Mavs fans hoped that Luka Doncic could become a superstar and take them to the next level just like Dirk Nowitzki did.

This season, Doncic has put the Mavs on his back as they are in the 2024 NBA Finals.

Jason Kidd sat down with NBA Today's Malika Andrews and Richard Jefferson yesterday. While chatting with Andrews and Jefferson, Kidd gave a reason on how Doncic can become the "greatest Maverick ever."

Jason Kidd reveals Luka Doncic can become 'greatest Maverick ever' by winning Finals

Andrews asked Kidd if the Mavs won the 2024 Finals would Docic be the "greatest Maverick ever," Kidd said "yes" with no hesitation. That is a bold statement from Kidd since he played with Nowitzki and won a Finals with him in 2011 and is currently the head coach for Doncic.

The two have played in two different eras and play two different positions. Doncic is a 6-foot-7 point guard and Nowitzki was a power forward. However, at 25 years old, Doncic has incredible accomplishments in his basketball career.

Doncic has accomplishments on his resume that Nowitzki doesn't. Some of those accomplishments include a Rookie of the Year, scoring title, and way more triple-doubles as Nowitzki only had two in his career. Doncic also has averaged two 30-point seasons and Nowitzki's highest average was 26.6 in the 2005-06 season. Doncic made his first Finals appearance in his sixth season to Nowitzki's eighth in the 2005-06 season.

In fairness to Nowitzki, he never had an elite superstar to play with like Doncic has Kyrie Irving. Even with no elite superstar, Nowitzki also has accomplishments that Doncic doesn't. The big thing Nowitzki has that Doncic doesn't is an MVP. Sure, the Mavs were upset in the first round by the Warriors in the 2007 Playoffs, but Nowitzki won his first and only MVP in a year the Mavs clinched the best record in the league at 67-15. And, he won the MVP the year after losing the 2006 Finals to the Heat. The Mavs also have never been a top seed or had the best record in the NBA with Doncic.

When Nowitzki and the Mavs won the 2011 Finals against the Heat, it was one of the most challenging roads to win. Defeating the Trail Blazers, the back-to-back NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers, and a young Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook-led Oklahoma City Thunder team was no easy task. Of course, the icing on the cake was defeating the Miami Heat and the "Big Three" of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. Also, the Mavs won the Finals in Miami and won two-of-three road games in Miami.

Nowitzki finished his career making 14 all-star games, was a 12-time All-NBA and is part of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. Doncic currently has each made five all-star games and All-NBAs.

If you ask most basketball and Mavs fans, Nowitzki will be the first name thought of when asked who the greatest Maverick ever is. If the Mavs win the Finals over the Boston Celtics, the debate will heat up in Doncic's favor.