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

[MMyhre]

You can reasonably argue that either player is better. But it’s certainly not obvious. SGA can apparently be neutered by good defense. Not sure that Luka can be, he’s too big and smart.

????

[MMyhre]

If Luka had 0 assists in a Finals game, he'd get crushed. He got hit hard after he had 1 in Game 1 against the Celtics last year.

SGA has now played the most minutes of anyone in the 2025 playoffs. He is leading in Total PTS and I think Total STL and Total WS.

Last year Luka led the playoffs in Total PTS, REB, AST and STL. He was just behind the WS lead.

They're both great players, but the responsibilities are different.

Before anyone says "but the defense," here's how Dallas' Individual DRTG looked over the entirety of the playoffs.



Also Luka had 3+ injuries in the postseason last year and was ill in the first round.

What a great stat, it also says that Luka is the 8th best offensive player on his team from ORTG. Seems very good

[HotRocks34]

If Luka had 0 assists in a Finals game, he'd get crushed. He got hit hard after he had 1 in Game 1 against the Celtics last year.

SGA has now played the most minutes of anyone in the 2025 playoffs. He is leading in Total PTS and I think Total STL and Total WS.

Last year Luka led the playoffs in Total PTS, REB, AST and STL. He was just behind the WS lead.

They're both great players, but the responsibilities are different.

Before anyone says "but the defense," here's how Dallas' Individual DRTG looked over the entirety of the playoffs.



Also Luka had 3+ injuries in the postseason last year and was ill in the first round.

What a great stat, it also says that Luka is the 8th best offensive player on his team from ORTG. Seems very good

"Also Luka had 3+ injuries in the postseason last year and was ill in the first round."

Luka has had five playoff seasons. Only two of them have been with a sub-26 PER. Last year (injured and sick) and this year (got sick midway through the series).

Additionally, Dallas faced three top-five defenses in the playoffs last year. OKC (#4), MIN (1) and BOS (3). Their first round opponent, LAC, was #17.

DRTG rankings of the OKC playoff opponents this year: MEM (10), DEN (22), MIN (6) and IND (13). No team in the top 5.

With that in mind and, as far as we know, no SGA injuries or illnesses this playoff run, his 25.9 playoffs PER heading into Finals G4 is very good but not outstanding. Particularly for a player with a 30.7 regular season PER who hasn't faced a great defense in this postseason.

That being said, there are still 2-3 games left in The Finals (along with the Game 4 data) so the number may come up a bit.

[Rubios]

Im more a fan of Luka but you can’t argue with what SGA has accomplished this year. It’ll be one of the greatest seasons we’ve ever seen if he can finish it off with winning his franchise their first ever championship with a finals MVP to cap it off.

I think Luka is the more dominant versatile offensive threat over SGA, and he can reach a level on offense that maybe only Jokic or Giannis can match. But i question his temperament, especially in big games. Like take tonight for example, i could see Luka imploding and getting Td up and dragging ass on defense if he wasn’t getting calls on the road. I think SGA is better mentally, more of a leader.

Maybe. And I actually mean "maybe", as I don't know.

OR Luka could've already broken* Haliburton's soul as he did with Booker and Edwards (past season). And perhaps Indy's crowd aswell.

*I am nearing 40 yo, so I don't like or dislike trash talking and/or taunting. I just don't care.

But the point is: he broke them. And Ant doesn't seem someone who folds easily.

[Johnny Firpo]

I like SGA, I think he is tremendous, but he is definitely not playing at an MVP level this playoffs. He is still very good, mind you, I mean, he averages 30 on 58% TS. That's a star, but it's not a coronation as the best player in the NBA, even if they win. That title should firmly remain with Jokic.

And one thing is for sure. His defense was definitely overrated. We've heard "Shai should win the DPOY too" opinions in the last two years (not a ton, mind you, but some OKC fans were pretty adamant about it). But anyway, back to the comparison.

I think it's close, and in fact, when Luka is fully healthy, I think he is a better playoff player. However, he is injured more and more, and was not healthy in the last two years. So for this reason, if I am building a team for the playoffs next year, I'd choose Shai out of the two. Also, while Luka's playoff ceiling is higher on an individual level, but his floor is probably a little lower.

[thamadkant]

Luka is a tier above from being an offensive play maker.... but overall, SGA is better. SGA's defense is 3 tiers above and his shot making ability is just a half tier below.

[MVP1992]

.

[Rubios]

I like SGA, I think he is tremendous, but he is definitely not playing at an MVP level this playoffs. He is still very good, mind you, I mean, he averages 30 on 58% TS. That's a star, but it's not a coronation as the best player in the NBA, even if they win. That title should firmly remain with Jokic.

And one thing is for sure. His defense was definitely overrated. We've heard "Shai should win the DPOY too" opinions in the last two years (not a ton, mind you, but some OKC fans were pretty adamant about it). But anyway, back to the comparison.

I think it's close, and in fact, when Luka is fully healthy, I think he is a better playoff player. However, he is injured more and more, and was not healthy in the last two years. So for this reason, if I am building a team for the playoff next year, I'd choose Shai out of the two.

No one -barely- believes SGA is a better player than Jokic. And I'll add Giannis.

Besides giving Jokic a 4th MVP (matching LeBron) and Giannis a 3rd, matching Bird and Magic, with just 1 ring and 1 Finals appearance might be a hard dilemma for the voters...
...There's the team record & points differential things.
OKC RS has been historical.

[MMyhre]

If Luka had 0 assists in a Finals game, he'd get crushed. He got hit hard after he had 1 in Game 1 against the Celtics last year.

SGA has now played the most minutes of anyone in the 2025 playoffs. He is leading in Total PTS and I think Total STL and Total WS.

Last year Luka led the playoffs in Total PTS, REB, AST and STL. He was just behind the WS lead.

They're both great players, but the responsibilities are different.

Before anyone says "but the defense," here's how Dallas' Individual DRTG looked over the entirety of the playoffs.



Also Luka had 3+ injuries in the postseason last year and was ill in the first round.

What a great stat, it also says that Luka is the 8th best offensive player on his team from ORTG. Seems very good

"Also Luka had 3+ injuries in the postseason last year and was ill in the first round."

Luka has had five playoff seasons. Only two of them have been with a sub-26 PER. Last year (injured and sick) and this year (got sick midway through the series).

Additionally, Dallas faced three top-five defenses in the playoffs last year. OKC (#4), MIN (1) and BOS (3). Their first round opponent, LAC, was #17.

DRTG rankings of the OKC playoff opponents this year: MEM (10), DEN (22), MIN (6) and IND (13). No team in the top 5.

With that in mind and, as far as we know, no SGA injuries or illnesses this playoff run, his 25.9 playoffs PER heading into Finals G4 is very good but not outstanding. Particularly for a player with a 30.7 regular season PER who hasn't faced a great defense in this postseason.

That being said, there are still 2-3 games left in The Finals (along with the Game 4 data) so the number may come up a bit.

Now check his PER from round 2 to the finals. Who gives a **** about a round 1 sweep where he was obviously not going 100 %. From Round 2 to the finals where it really matters he has been great.

[MoneyTalks41890]

There must be more context to this example other than, being an expert at the foul rules and coercing the ref's

The NBA needs to inject some FIBA ref's to put a reality check on the threshold of a foul, flopping, initiation of contact and non basketball moves to flout the rules.

If I did this I'd expect to get hard fouled more often.

Read on Twitter

OKC was in the bonus and that’s a foul. Don’t reach.

[MVP1992]

.

[ImmortalD24]

There must be more context to this example other than, being an expert at the foul rules and coercing the ref's

The NBA needs to inject some FIBA ref's to put a reality check on the threshold of a foul, flopping, initiation of contact and non basketball moves to flout the rules.

If I did this I'd expect to get hard fouled more often.

[tweet]

OKC was in the bonus and that’s a foul. Don’t reach.

I get it, but how does he do it?
Are defenders drawn to touching him, or just don't learn that they'll be pinged for skin on skin contact?

Not related to the example in the tweet.
- Creating separation: is it ok to shunt the defender with your forearm to their chest, with enough force to change both player's momentum? 'The Push Off'

Read on Twitter

Honestly that could've been an And1..

[MVP1992]

.

[ImmortalD24]

Read on Twitter

"You know the rules.. hand down, man down!
Mama, there goes that man!"

[HotRocks34]

If Luka had 0 assists in a Finals game, he'd get crushed. He got hit hard after he had 1 in Game 1 against the Celtics last year.

SGA has now played the most minutes of anyone in the 2025 playoffs. He is leading in Total PTS and I think Total STL and Total WS.

Last year Luka led the playoffs in Total PTS, REB, AST and STL. He was just behind the WS lead.

They're both great players, but the responsibilities are different.

Before anyone says "but the defense," here's how Dallas' Individual DRTG looked over the entirety of the playoffs.



Also Luka had 3+ injuries in the postseason last year and was ill in the first round.

Luka in The Finals last year. I believe this was before Game 2. Sprained knee and a chest contusion that he was getting pain injections for.

[Rubios]

Maybe. And I actually mean "maybe", as I don't know.

OR Luka could've already broken* Haliburton's soul as he did with Booker and Edwards (past season). And perhaps Indy's crowd aswell.

*I am nearing 40 yo, so I don't like or dislike trash talking and/or taunting. I just don't care.

But the point is: he broke them. And Ant doesn't seem someone who folds easily.

It was being an horrible game from Shai, but 15 points in the last 5' is absurd and makes me rethink the above. Maybe he has just destroyed Indiana's will as Luka did with Suns/Wolves.
It takes serious balls to have that stretch at the end (and possibly endgame of the series if 1-3) coming from such a bad night.

[ImmortalD24]

In terms of winning SGA has it all.. who would most want to have a beer with? Luka easily.

Thus far before game 7:

[MoneyMo]

Shai has the hardware. We'll see how things go for Luka with new ownership

[ball_takes23]

Shai has the hardware. We'll see how things go for Luka with new ownership

Lakers still have no cap space until 2026. it's going to be a 3 year turnaround to undo the previous destruction. Luka would be smart to leave next summer, especially if Lebron doesn't retire.

[Kobe187]

Luka is the better player but SGA was better this season, Luka had a bad season coming off injury. SGA is a great player on an even greater team and takes what comes to him efficiently. SGA played on a stacked OKC team (the most watered down MVP in recent years, doesn’t draw double teams etc) and wouldn’t be able to carry a team offensively if he was forced to do so every offensive possession. The Thunder were 5-1 without Scooby. 15 guys could’ve won this title in place of him.