Lets admit the obvious: SGA is a better player than Luka

[Raps in 4]

Luka can be a better shotmaker at times, but SGA isn't far behind, and he plays defence. He has a bigger impact on the game than Luka.

They're both top-5 players though.

[Andri]

Luka is 26yo, we have to stop giving him benefit of a doubt. Yeah, he can turn the page next season, but SGA is this year doing things in real world we have constantly argued that Luka is theoretically capable of. It's super close and I can imagine Luka being superior at the end of the day out of this comparison, but for now it's easily SGA.

Do you realize that Luka has reached the WCF twice being younger, with a worse roster and better stats that SGA? And he even got to the finals, SGA doesn't yet.

If SGA wins it all, he could have a great case given the overall context, but the "what have you done for me lately" narratives are just that.

[bledredwine]

It's weird, these playoffs have actually persuaded me that Luka's at worst the third best player (maybe 4th if Wemby takes that next step). I might've said SGA ahead earlier but now I feel the opposite.

Yep. This year, Shai was better, but full strength Luka is better than any Shai.

[Deathray]

Not to take anything away from Shai, he's a deserving MVP, but considering how complete of a team the Thunder are I don't see how he's proved anything we didn't know one way or another so far these playoffs. He's played well but hasn't had to elevate the team.

[Primedeion]

Luka hasn't been better since 2022.

[Statlanta]

It's obvious to you but not to general consensus.

Doncic is on a roster he's been on for half a season vs. Gilgeous-Alexander being on the Thunder and their roster for multiple seasons. I would imagine one guy would be more comfortable putting up a MVP level season than the other.

[The Master]

Do you realize that Luka has reached the WCF twice being younger, with a worse roster and better stats that SGA? And he even got to the finals, SGA doesn't yet.

If SGA wins it all, he could have a great case given the overall context, but the "what have you done for me lately" narratives are just that.

Do you realize that this year of Shai is better than '22 and '24 seasons of Luka statistically?

This is what I meant. Shai can outproduce Luka both in terms of raw boxscore-BPM production as well as on/off stats or impact metrics (LEBRON, EPM) - with better individual accolades (MVP) - all of that while having much better current season, and people are still giving Luka benefit of a doubt of what he potentially would/could do.

At some point, you have to assess things the way they are. And not that I don't believe that Luka can outdo what SGA has been doing this year - but he's 26yo, he's not a prospect anymore. SGA is on his way to have the best season of them, while being from the same draft class and only 6-7 months older. That's the reality.

[vxmike]

This SGA season is better than any season Luka had yes, Luka has been better for much longer, but seems like SGA is peaking higher, but only time will tell, but your premise is false and the opposite of reality.
Twice on his career Luka has been on elite defenses, the 1st time was with personnel that had no business being elite, teams don't need to hide Luka on defense, he showed he can be part of great defense and contribute to it.

Yes. SGA is having his moment but Luka is capable of a high level of play also. It's close enough that we need a bigger sample size of prime years to really evaluate. I prefer SGA for his defensive impact but Luka is more explosive offensively (elite shotmaker, better passer).

How good would Luka look on this OKC roster with insane depth and defense to fully cover his shortcoming? Luka would average 40 I bet.

[Astaluego]

Luka can play at a higher level. SGA is more consistent.... In a single match, I'd go with Luka. A generational talent, brilliant. He can play at the highest level in the world. In a good match, he can beat anyone. On a bad day, he'll make you lose. His performance ranges from a 5 to a 10. SGA is a powerhouse. Even on a bad day, he helps the team. Ranges from a 7 to a 9.5.

[Mrakar]

SGA shot 10 for 27 from the field, lets not act like he is carryng them to the tittle. Their amazing defense and bench are.

[Kingdibs19]

I removed the poll due to it clearly being a popularity contest. SGA hate is at an all-time high will not produce accurate polling.

“I removed the poll because it backfired and didn’t go the way I wanted”

“I’m taking my ball and going home”

[Stribor]

Such a hot take. I am not saying Luka is better, but he was already once in the West finals, and once in the finals, while this year he played for the team that was not built around him. I think you can argue this if you like, but it is far from obvious. What is clear due to their styles, SGA can plug and play in any team, since he has great offense but also a very good defense. Luka is, IMHO, still more multifaceted offensive weapon but demands a team built around him to maximise his impact. For that, I would say the SGA is more valuable in the sense that if I am in a random team and can get one of these two, hoping to win it all next year, in 8 out of 10 cases, I would take SGA. However, in the other 2 cases with proper personnel, I would say that Luka still gives a better probability of actually winning it all.

[Coach Carter]

Easily the dumbest take I've read all year

[Mavrelous]

This SGA season is better than any season Luka had yes, Luka has been better for much longer, but seems like SGA is peaking higher, but only time will tell, but your premise is false and the opposite of reality.
Twice on his career Luka has been on elite defenses, the 1st time was with personnel that had no business being elite, teams don't need to hide Luka on defense, he showed he can be part of great defense and contribute to it.

Yes. SGA is having his moment but Luka is capable of a high level of play also. It's close enough that we need a bigger sample size of prime years to really evaluate. I prefer SGA for his defensive impact but Luka is more explosive offensively (elite shotmaker, better passer).

How good would Luka look on this OKC roster with insane depth and defense to fully cover his shortcoming? Luka would average 40 I bet.

I don't want to sound wrong, there is 0 justification for what Nico Harrison did and he should be fired, but Luka had a great roster in Dallas this year, he tasted the finals and everyone was waiting for him to come take the crown, SGA lost in the semifinals, how each one of them came to this season is their own doing and is very telling...
I disagree that SGA was better than Luka in any season until this year, Luka was better in 23, he was dealt a terrible roster he had to carry until his body broke down, and in 24 he was the best player in the league, but SGA not only was better this year, he outplayed Luka's best season.
Good fitting rosters elevate players, we saw this in Dallas post deadline last year, SGA saw he had a great roster and came prepared for it, Luka saw the same and came unprepared and out of shape.
I'm rooting for Luka to come back like he can be, which is a better player than SGA, but it's on him to show it, his spot behind Jokic was taken.

[lethalizer]

Easily the dumbest take I've read all year

I don't agree with the take posted here, but this is incredibly rich coming from a man who said "sga is not a superstar".

so yeah, I've already seen a dumber take.

[LAvision]

LOL!

[bkkrh]

Luka is 26yo, we have to stop giving him benefit of a doubt. Yeah, he can turn the page next season, but SGA is this year doing things in real world we have constantly argued that Luka is theoretically capable of. It's super close and I can imagine Luka being superior at the end of the day out of this comparison, but for now it's easily SGA.

For now yes, but both are at an age where they should enter their prime pretty much the next few seasons. We will see if Luka had a down season for his standards and if he gets back on track next year.

[MrBigShot]

People have short memories

[The Master]

For now yes, but both are at an age where they should enter their prime pretty much the next few seasons. We will see if Luka had a down season for his standards and if he gets back on track next year.

Sure, although that's the point as well - peak years are between ~25-31 for almost every player, KD, Giannis, Wade or Jokic had already won either RS or Finals MVP in Luka age (26yo).

That's why the whole 'Luka will get back to shape and will surpass SGA' is simultaneously correct (I can easily imagine that, e.g. Shaq peaked as a 28-30yo) and a bit laughable (as these ARE already his prime years). Next year, he'll be actually in position to potentially catch up with Shai, not the other way around. And I'm not talking team success only, as this year of Shai is statistically better than any year of Luka.

[slicedbread2]

The recency bias is very strong.

In all honesty, both are top 5 players and I'd love to have either of them as my centrepiece. The major difference right now is that SGA has had the great privilege that few players get of being on a team that has management that knows what the hell they are doing and has ownership that stays the hell out of the way. Sam Presti is truly one of the greatest executives in the modern era and has done a fabulous job of building a team around SGA and finding gems in the draft, g-league, FA and trades.

On the other hand, a lot of generational talents like Luka had the misfortune of playing for a team that had an executive branch that was highly unstable and volatile. It's honestly crazy what happened this year and the aftermath after (not surprised due to fans cancelling season tickets). Putting Nico in the same sentence as Presti is an insult as the former is an egomaniacal nutjob who enjoys the smell of his own farts while the latter has a proven track record of getting things done.