Remarkable comparison on ESPN’s morning show Get Up, about Luka Doncic becoming the new Larry Bird: “We had the next this, the next that, but we not had the next Lary Bird in NBA, and I think Luka Doncic is that.”
First season comparison: Signing with the Boston Celtics for a then-record $650,000 a year, Larry Bird justified his salary right out of the gate, averaging 21.3 points per game and claiming Rookie of the Year honors for the 1979-80 NBA season. While Luka Doncic was selected with the third overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2018 NBA draft, later becoming just the fifth player in NBA history to average at least 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in his rookie year, he was selected unanimously to the All-Rookie First Team, and received the NBA Rookie of the Year Award.
