Report: Jason Kidd controversial Luka Dončić with shocking statement
What does athleticism mean to most people? Typically, it’s about jumping the highest and running the fastest. But perhaps we should reconsider this definition, especially when we look at who dominates the league in scoring, consistently ranks high in MVP discussions, and sets records for triple doubles.
Players like Luka Dončić and Nikola Jokić are often described as unstoppable scorers. Coaches struggle to find ways to contain them, often admitting defeat with responses like “We can’t” or “just hope.”
Last summer, before he became an NBA coach, JJ Redick raised this issue on his podcast, The Old Man and the Three. This made me wonder—are we approaching athleticism in the wrong way?
Redick’s discussion was inspired by another podcast, Tom Haberstroh’s Basketball Illuminati, where Haberstroh interviewed Dr. Marcus Elliott, founder of the Peak Performance Project (P3). P3 has assessed a significant majority of current NBA players and has collected data on them for over a decade.
Dr. Elliott, a sports medicine specialist, presented a novel perspective on athleticism—one that challenges conventional norms. When asked about the most impressive athlete he had assessed, someone who might not fit the typical athletic mold, Dr. Elliott unequivocally mentioned Luka Dončić.
“Our metrics for athleticism show Luka off the charts, despite the perception that he’s not athletic,” he explained.
Traditionally, athleticism is defined by speed and jumping ability. However, there are numerous metrics that are more nuanced and predictive of success.
“Luka doesn’t have the explosive vertical of an average NBA guard. He isn’t known for blazing speed. But his ability to stop and perform under pressure is unmatched compared to most athletes we’ve evaluated.”
Part 2 of our Luka teaser…
JJ: How much do you practice the full speed to the decel?
Luka: I didn’t practice that.
JJ: You’re a sick f*ck.pic.twitter.com/ONSNdsg0g1
— Jason Gallagher (@jga41agher) February 8, 2024
According to Dr. Marcus Elliott from P3, Luka Dončić scored exceptionally high on deceleration metrics, with only James Harden surpassing him during his peak. Even at the age of 18, Dončić ranked second in these metrics, despite not fitting the traditional athletic stereotype.
“We initially thought he was an exceptional athlete, despite his appearance of being somewhat slow and less physically defined,” Dr. Elliott noted.
P3’s extensive data includes thousands of points that analyze how athletes move, land, change directions, and slide. These metrics consistently show that the most successful athletes aren’t necessarily the fastest runners or highest jumpers.
Nikola Jokić, another NBA superstar who isn’t conventionally seen as highly athletic, also stood out in various assessments.
“Jokić recorded the lowest vertical jump of any NBA player we’ve evaluated, around 9.8 inches. However, his movement quality is remarkably high,” Dr. Elliott explained.
Describing Jokić as an “enigmatic mover,” akin to a versatile tool like a Swiss Army knife, Dr. Elliott highlighted his ability to adapt and excel in various movement scenarios.
Jokic going to work in the paint 😤
Watch the final two minutes NOW!
➡️ https://t.co/qZ7mIYNC8r pic.twitter.com/crYLSlhZLi— NBA (@NBA) February 14, 2023
Dr. Marcus Elliott also emphasized that over the past decade, NBA athletes, especially those in larger positions, have shown significant improvement in athleticism.
For a long time, basketball fans have been perplexed by the dominance of players like Luka Dončić and Nikola Jokić, often labeled as “unathletic” or criticized for their perceived lack of fitness and speed. However, detailed analysis from experts like Dr. Elliott using extensive numbers, data points, and metrics tells a different story. Despite the league becoming increasingly athletic overall, these players continue to defy expectations and consistently set new records.
This challenges the traditional notion that athleticism is best represented by flashy dunks or raw physical attributes alone.