Jerry West: Luka Doncic ‘Will Be the Best Player Dallas Has Ever Had’

Luka Doncic will be the greatest Dallas Maverick of them all, according to Hall of Famer Jerry West.

“I have great respect for [Dirk] Nowitzki, but Dirk is not him,” says West.

Doncic, 20, registered his NBA-leading 11th triple-double of the season—38 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists—in Monday night’s 118-110 win against the visiting Chicago Bulls.

Per The Dallas Morning News:

“My goodness, yes,” West says, laughing. “Everyone wishes they had a 20-year-old who plays like him, and he hasn’t even scratched the surface. It’s fun to watch genius.”

Genius?

“I’ve been around a long time,” he says, “and I’ve seen a lot of special players. How many superstars are there in the league at any given time? Maybe five or six. There’s a difference between All-Stars and superstars. A superstar is different, and that’s what he is.”

He’s so good, he should have been the first pick of the draft, West says.

“Look at Dallas,” he says. “One player has transformed them into a playoff team. He will be the best player Dallas has ever had. I have great respect for Nowitzki, but Dirk is not him.”

Related Gregg Popovich: Luka Doncic ‘Magic Johnson-Like’