NBA Analyst Believes Dallas Mavs' Luka Doncic Has Yet to Reach Full Potential

With the kind of historic run that Luka Doncic is on over the last month, it comes into question how high is the peak of Dallas' superstar?

Through the first 33 games of the 2023-24 season, the Dallas Mavericks hold an 19-14 record led by the MVP-like play of Luka Doncic.

On the most recent episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast, Simmons pondered just how much better Doncic can get from his current state of MVP-level basketball.

"What is the best possible Luka season? Simmons asked. "Because, I don't feel like we're there yet. Could he get to 36/9/9 for a season? Could he get to 37?"

Through 30 games, Doncic is averaging a career-high 33.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 9.3 assists while shooting 48.9 percent from the field and a career-high 38.4 percent from 3-point range, which includes a historic performance on Christmas Day, finishing with 50 points, six rebounds, 15 assists, four steals, and three blocks. 

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"The level that he's at intellectually as a basketball player is obscene, and he just knows every single play Terminator-style, kind of what LeBron (James) morphed into when he was on Miami," Simmons said. 

Simmons spoke on Doncic's size being the utmost factor for his dominance to score at all three levels by using his large stature and skill as an unstoppable tandem. And with time on his side, the potential of increasing the height of his peak is real.

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"He turns 25 in February and the history of the NBA says, you peak at age 26, 27, 28 -- somewhere in there," Simmons said. "I think he can get to 37/9/9, which is absurd."

With the kind of streak Doncic put together in December – averaging over 35 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists – Simmons' thinking certainly looks more than feasible.

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