Mark Cuban vocals in Dirk Nowitzki and Luka Doncic comparisons

Dallas Mavericks are at the center of a dispute between Hall of Fame forward Dirk Nowitzki and Slovenian superstar Luka Dončić. Having witnessed the greatness of both players, Mavs minority owner Mark Cuban shared his thoughts during an interview with Shannon Sharpe on the “Club Shay Shay” podcast.

Cuba described some in detail Anecdotes about Nowitzki and Dončić.

Shannon Sharpe questioned Cuban, Asking if you really believe Luka is better than Dirk was right now.

Mark Cuban compares Dirk Nowitzki and Luka Doncic

“Remember, the league has changed and Dirk’s mentality has changed, rather than the talents he brings or even his skills; Dirk is more mentally tough than any person I’ve ever met in my life. Whether it’s dealing with pain. It’s what you do off the field, what you do off the field, that determines what you do. It doesn’t matter how talented you are, right? We’ve both seen talented men catch fire in a minute. Dirk had a stronger mentality than maybe anyone except Michael Jordan,” Cuban said about Nowitzki.

The debate continues as Doncic is only six years into his NBA journey. However, if it maintains its current pace, the debate may quickly become meaningless. Over six seasons, Doncic has earned five All-Star selections, four All-NBA first-team honors and won the NBA scoring championship in 2023-24 as well as Rookie of the Year honors in 2018-19. He averaged 28.7 points, 8.3 assists and 8.7 rebounds per game in 400 regular season games.

“On the other hand, in terms of real skill and killer instinct, Luka can handle the ball. Dirk needed someone to get the ball to him. That’s the only reason, right? If Dirk appeared now, he would have the necessary skills and abilities, right? Kids today watch on Instagram, they watch on TikTok, they see all the practices and all the moves, they see Steph (Curry) and Luka and Kyrie. “Dirk should have been out of the game with all this going on,” Mavericks minority owner said of Luka Doncic.

Nowitzki had a limited rookie season, appearing in only 47 games, but quickly blossomed into a star, earning four All-Star selections, two All-NBA second team and two third team honors. He played 44 more games than Doncic in his first six seasons, averaging 20.4 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.

What will it take for Luka to be the best Mavs player ever?

Doncic and Nowitzki shined in the early playoff games. Nowitzki posted a double-double in 35 postseason games, averaging 25.5 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. In contrast, Doncic made a significant impact, averaging 32.5 points, 7.9 assists and 9.3 rebounds per game in 28 playoff games.

Nowitzki has a clear advantage over Doncic with his NBA title under his belt, but it took him 11 seasons to finally hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

The German sharpshooter spent 21 years in the NBA, dedicating his entire career to the Mavericks and building a strong relationship with Mark Cuban both on and off the court.

Both players clearly display greatness and have significantly impacted the Mavericks. It’s rare for a franchise to move from one all-time great to another, but Dallas made the switch effectively Nowitzki to Doncic.

If Luka Doncic can finally lead the Mavs to another Larry O’Brien trophy, that could settle the debate. Until then, or until he decides to retire, the debate between him and Nowitzki will remain open.