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If all goes well for Luka Doncic, he can dream of one day equaling Steve Nash as an eight-time NBA All-Star, two-time MVP and Hall of Famer.
So, it’s worth noting that Nash – in his first season coaching the Nets – seems almost envious of Doncic’s talent and makeup from guard to guard.
“Luka is one of the most exciting talents we’ve seen,” Nash said after Friday practice to prepare for take on Doncic and the Mavericks on Saturday night. “Do I see a part of myself in him?” If I was 6 feet 8 inches and 230 pounds, yes. It’s a big difference when you’re 6 feet 2 inches tall and 175 pounds. “
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and team president Donnie Nelson began the Nash-Doncic comparisons after a trade with the Hawks to acquire their new star in the 2018 NBA Draft. As Doncic burst onto the scene in As a rookie, Nash, who was working for the Warriors as a consultant at the time, raised the bar by calling him “perhaps the best 20-year-old the NBA has ever seen.”
Doncic turns 22 on Sunday, and Nash’s praise for the All-Star double hasn’t waned. Doncic has 33 career triple-doubles in the regular season and the combined playoffs – the most in NBA history at his age.
“It’s such a weapon to be able to have that size, that physique, that skill and that feel for the game – and that personality,” Nash said. “He has a personality at such a young age to be able to resume NBA games. Very, very special repertoire or skill. He’s a very, very unique player, even historically.
Kevin Durant’s prolonged absence due to injury is the star, but the Nets could also be without forward Jeff Green for a second straight game. He is listed as questionable with a contusion to his right shoulder.
“We are optimistic that he will be back soon,” Nash said. “I can’t say for sure, but I think the feeling is that every day he gets better, not more worried. Hope he’s back here soon. But, in the long run, we don’t feel that this situation can get any worse.
The Nets are buying Spencer Dinwiddie as the March 25 deadline approaches, according to an ESPN report.
Dinwiddie suffered a torn ACL late in the season in December. According to Spotrac.com, he has a $ 12.3 million player option for next season on his three-year, $ 34 million contract, so it makes sense that any business partner would force Dinwiddie to exercise his option and bypass free agency.
Former Knicks star Kristaps Porzingis is set to return to New York on Saturday with the Mavericks. He missed three straight games with low back strain, the final chapter in the injury-plagued 25-year-old forward’s career.
Just over two years after being dealt by the Knicks with the Mavericks, with whom he signed a five-year contract worth up to $ 158 million, Porzingis is once again the subject of trade rumors.
“I don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes, and I shouldn’t be too worried about it,” Porzingis told reporters after practice on Friday. “It can only distract me at the end of the day.”
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