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

ImmortalD24 · Post #1 » by **ImmortalD24** » Wed May 21, 2025 6:13 am

I've been reading a lot of comments on how Luka on the Thunder in place of SGA would be a better team and I completely disagree. No team can hide Luka's inability to defend. Even Goatruso can't save him. SGA just gives you more on both ends without dominating the ball.

LethalRangee · Post #2 » by **LethalRangee** » Wed May 21, 2025 6:15 am

He can certainly draw fouls better than Luka, that’s for sure!

ImmortalD24 · Post #3 » by **ImmortalD24** » Wed May 21, 2025 6:24 am

LethalRangee wrote:He can certainly draw fouls better than Luka, that’s for sure!

Refs tend to not respect players who constantly whine and lack discipline tbqh. SGA doesn't even smoke or drink.

1993Playoffs · Post #4 » by **1993Playoffs** » Wed May 21, 2025 6:27 am

I agree

fast+forward · Post #5 » by **fast+forward** » Wed May 21, 2025 6:30 am

SGA hasn't sniffed the WCF before this year.

scrabbarista · Post #6 » by **scrabbarista** » Wed May 21, 2025 6:32 am

Yeah, SGA has him until proven otherwise.

It still feels like Luka's ceiling should be higher, but it's not looking like he'll get there.

Patches Perry · Post #7 » by **Patches Perry** » Wed May 21, 2025 6:32 am

LethalRangee wrote:He can certainly draw fouls better than Luka, that’s for sure!

I'm not even sure that's true. Luka is pretty skilled at drawing fouls himself.

LethalRangee · Post #8 » by **LethalRangee** » Wed May 21, 2025 6:33 am

Patches Perry wrote:
LethalRangee wrote:He can certainly draw fouls better than Luka, that’s for sure!

I'm not even sure that's true. Luka is pretty skilled at drawing fouls himself.

It’s part of his bag, ya. But he doesn’t do it egregiously and it’s not the main catalyst for his game, it’s in rhythm with his team’s offense, like other all time greats. When people think of Luka, they don’t think “Oh yeah, that free throw merchant?”. He also gets a much worse whistle, in part due to his complaining, but he also doesn’t flop as much as other stars.

Patches Perry · Post #9 » by **Patches Perry** » Wed May 21, 2025 6:41 am

LethalRangee wrote:
Patches Perry wrote:
LethalRangee wrote:He can certainly draw fouls better than Luka, that’s for sure!

I'm not even sure that's true. Luka is pretty skilled at drawing fouls himself.

It’s part of his bag, ya. But he doesn’t do it egregiously and it’s not the main catalyst for his game, it’s in rhythm with his team’s offense, like other all time greats. When people think of Luka, they don’t think “Oh yeah, that free throw merchant?”

Anyone who thinks SGA doesn't have a deep "bag" and that drawings fouls is "the main catalyst of his game" should not be taken seriously on anything NBA basketball related.

For the record- Luka and SGA have comparable free throw rates despite SGA driving a lot more, and also comparable FGM per game, which refutes this implication that all his points come from the free throw line. I'm not convinced.

Post #10 » by **Mavrelous** » Wed May 21, 2025 6:42 am

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 in 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.

Patches Perry · Post #11 » by **Patches Perry** » Wed May 21, 2025 6:46 am

Mavrelous wrote: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).

ImmortalD24 · Post #12 » by **ImmortalD24** » Wed May 21, 2025 6:47 am

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.

LethalRangee · Post #13 » by **LethalRangee** » Wed May 21, 2025 6:47 am

Patches Perry wrote:
LethalRangee wrote:
Patches Perry wrote:
I'm not even sure that's true. Luka is pretty skilled at drawing fouls himself.

It’s part of his bag, ya. But he doesn’t do it egregiously and it’s not the main catalyst for his game, it’s in rhythm with his team’s offense, like other all time greats. When people think of Luka, they don’t think “Oh yeah, that free throw merchant?”

Anyone who thinks SGA doesn't have a deep "bag" and that drawings fouls is "the main catalyst of his game" should not be taken seriously on anything NBA basketball related.

For the record- Luka and SGA have comparable free throw rates despite SGA driving a lot more, and also comparable FGM per game, which refutes this implication that all his points come from the free throw line. I'm not convinced.

Am I taking crazy pills? Did you see some of his shot selection tonight trying to draw fouls with no whistles? Or him tripping over himself to get a whistle? He’s done that multiple times in the DEN series as well. What other star does that? Yeah he’s crafty and gets to his spots midrange, that doesn’t take away from the fact that he’s a serial foul baiter.

uncleduck13 · Post #14 » by **uncleduck13** » Wed May 21, 2025 6:48 am

Yeah this is the season that SGA officially surpassed Luka and I doubt there’s gonna be any looking back. He’s completely set up to succeed going forward. From game, to fitness, to roster construction. He no doubt finishes with the better resume and will go down as the best player of the 2018 draft class.

Luka’s only shot at keeping up with him is by getting his conditioning right and getting out of LA next summer.

Lalouie · Post #15 » by **Lalouie** » Wed May 21, 2025 6:51 am

luka is an overnight franchise changer

he's a love at first sight talent. it seems like he's been around longer but both were drafted in 2018

luka is just f****g SMARTER and always will be

mademan · Post #16 » by **mademan** » Wed May 21, 2025 6:52 am

Forget Luka, Shai is working on the best non-Jordan guard season ever. It's really being under-appreciated because of a GOAT level peak playing in the league at the same time,

uncleduck13 · Post #17 » by **uncleduck13** » Wed May 21, 2025 6:56 am

ImmortalD24 wrote: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.

People love the idea of Luka more than who Luka actually is. He’s just a fan / media darling. Dude been preseason MVP favorite since what, year 2? Crazy how SGA finna get one before him :lol:

They say Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.

KGtabake · Post #18 » by **KGtabake** » Wed May 21, 2025 6:57 am

This season, yes.
In the previous one though, what was the opinion? It was Mavericks in the Finals then.

We'll see. Right now, SGA seems to have an environment around him position him far better in order for him to be successful.

levon · Post #19 » by **levon** » Wed May 21, 2025 6:59 am

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.

The Master · Post #20 » by **The Master** » Wed May 21, 2025 7:10 am

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.

Who better?