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If Dallas closes out Minnesota tonight, we’re going to have a week until the Finals. This newsletter is about to get real review-y with movies.

The Athletic has live coverage of Celtics vs. Mavericks in Game 5 of the NBA Finals

HallaLuka

Is Luka Dončić taking the crown now?

Do you hear that? The storm clouds of debate are forming off in the distance, just waiting to strike basketball conversations with a torrential downpour of hyperbolic disagreement. With Nikola Jokić eliminated by Minnesota, Giannis Antetokounmpo not making an appearance in the playoffs and Joel Embiid too injured to be consistent, there is an opening for the title of “best basketball player in the world.” It’s a rite of passage for someone we’ve been waiting to see reach the NBA Finals. might just be that guy. Is it an overreaction to just dismiss Jokić (a three-time MVP in the last four years, plus reigning champion and Finals MVP) because he lost in the second round? Probably. But does Dončić also have a case for challenging the honor’s throne? He’s very much creating one. And that’s where we stand now, with the Dallas Mavericks on the brink of the third NBA Finals berth in team history.

The 25-year-old has the stats, as we know. While Mavs fans have been adamant he was the real MVP this season (he wasn’t, but he was still awesome), his numbers continue to look like utter nonsense. He averaged 33.9 points (first Maverick to win the scoring title), a career-high 9.8 assists and 9.2 rebounds with a career-best 61.7 percent true shooting percentage. For the playoffs, Dončić is at 28.3 points, 9.1 assists and 9.6 rebounds with a dip in his true shooting mark (55.6), but he also has a laundry list of injuries he’s managing.

And, if Dončić manages to beat the vaunted Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals, then we’re ripe for the discussion of whether he’s the best player in the world. Joining that club of champions immediately jumps you up a couple notches, and we’ve seen Dončić show such potential ever since he joined the NBA in 2018. Boston’s Jayson Tatum will have something to say about it. Jokić and Giannis and company will be back next season to prove the chatter wrong. But this discourse is about to get very loud if Dončić can lead his team to five more wins in the next four weeks.

Since we’re here, let’s direct the question to you, the reader!  Click here to weigh in on who you believe is the best player in the world. We’ll update late tomorrow with your results. always follo this link for more updates