Where Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum rank among the best backcourts
By Erris Brown
5. Dennis Smith Jr. and Luka Doncic — Dallas Mavericks
Career stats:
- Dennis Smith Jr.: 14.4 PPG, 4.9 APG, 3.6 RPG, 40.4 FG%, 32.3 3P%
- Luka Doncic: 19.6 PPG, 5.1 APG, 6.5 RPG, 47.3 FG%, 37.1 3P%
Our first backcourt-to-backcourt comparison comes with a duo the Trail Blazers took on early on in December. In the 2017 NBA Draft, the Dallas Mavericks were in search of a dynamic point guard with unparalleled athletic ability and the potential to be a volume scoring, leading them to pick Dennis Smith Jr. out of NC State with the ninth overall pick.
Fast forward to 2018 after Smith’s solid All-Rookie Second Team campaign, the Mavs were able to steal a world-class star via a trade with the Atlanta Hawks, bringing 19-year-old EuroLeague phenom Luka Doncic along to complete their backcourt of the future.
So far this season, Smith has averaged 13.1 points and 3.9 assists per game, while rookie sensation Doncic has averaged 19.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists a night. Dec. 4 was Lillard and McCollum’s first matchup with the young backcourt of the Mavs, and the Blazers suffered defeat.
Doncic and Smith combined for 33 points (21 and 12, respectively), which is what Lillard put up alone. That’s not to include CJ McCollum’s 18 that he added before going out with an ankle injury. It was the clutch performance by the youngest Euroleague MVP in history, Luka Doncic, that sealed the deal for the Mavs that night, however.
On Dec. 23, Smith was out of action due to injury, leaving Doncic by himself in the backcourt matchup. Although the early Rookie of the Year frontrunner had a excellent 23-point, 11-rebound, six-assist performance to help get his team as far as overtime, it was Lillard and McCollum’s 33 and 22 points, respectively, that nudged the Blazers to a 121-118 win in the end.
The experience, or lack thereof, on both sides is evident. With Doncic still in his teen years and DSJ just turning 21 a few weeks ago, age plays a factor as Lillard and McCollum’s experience towers over the young duo in Dallas.
Although the potential is undoubtedly there, as it looks like Dallas’ backcourt can be one of the most cerebral forces in the game for years to come, it is Lillard and McCollum’s pro-level experience and increased efficiency that elevates them in this matchup.