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"It's God-given, to be honest" – Austin Reaves explains why Luka Doncic's game can't be replicated
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- "It's God-given, to be honest" – Austin Reaves explains why Luka Doncic's game can't be replicated
Austin Reaves knew exactly what kind of player Luka Doncic was when the Los Angeles Lakers acquired the Slovenian star from the Dallas Mavericks in February 2025. Now, after spending a full season alongside him, Reaves has gained an even greater admiration for what makes Doncic's game so unique.
Throughout NBA history, the league has produced stars with countless styles of play. As the sport continues to evolve, players have studied and tried to emulate those greats, but few have truly succeeded.
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Reaves thinks it's impossible to replicate Luka Doncic 's playing style
Reaves believes Doncic is one of the rare players whose style simply cannot be replicated.
"I think it's God-given, to be honest," Reaves admitted on the "Dan Patrick Show."
When Doncic was drafted third overall in 2018, the prodigy had already established himself as one of the world's brightest young talents. During his time with Real Madrid, he dazzled with his deadly step-back jumper, elite shotmaking, court vision and basketball IQ, all the while elevating those around him as a playmaker. It didn't take long for those skills to translate to the NBA.
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Doncic's impact was immediate, drawing comparisons to some of the game's all-time greats, including Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. LeBron James was among those who saw the similarities between him and the Boston Celtics icon , citing Doncic's feel for the game and ability to dictate the tempo at 6'8" and 230 pounds.
But more than his scoring or passing, what has long set Doncic apart is his rare ability to control a game at his own pace, a sentiment Reaves echoed.
"The pace that he plays with, the way he sees the game and creates advantages for other people," Reaves said. "You can study it, but I don't know if you can really do it the way that he does it."
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With this play style, the Lakers guard averaged a league-high 33.5 points on 47.6 shooting from the field, while posting 7.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game last season. He has earned six All-Star selections, six All-NBA First Team nods and two scoring titles. He led the Mavericks to the Finals the year before he was traded.
The new name of the game
Basketball is constantly evolving, but there are play styles that have stood the test of time.
Some players who rely heavily on athleticism and explosiveness often see their games altered by injuries or age, as most famously shown by Derrick Rose . However, those built on skill, footwork, vision, and IQ have tended to age more gracefully.
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Now, it seems that players have begun placing a greater premium on the latter type of play, with emphasis on pace. Other than Doncic, stars like James, who has been in the league for two decades, Kawhi Leonard , Nikola Jokic , Jalen Brunson and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander , among others.
For the Arkansas native, these stars understand the new name of the game is not sheer athleticism but rather mastery of pace and the game.
"You're not going to watch them and be like they're blowing by anybody, which they do, but it's always like slow to fast or fast to slow. It's never just completely fast," Reaves explained. "There's guys that just run by people and then there's guys that bait people to do what they want them to do."
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Arguably, Reaves fits this player archetype, which perhaps explains why he and Doncic mesh well together on the court, shenanigans aside. Doncic once said playing with him just makes his life easier . If they stay healthy, the duo is expected to spearhead a new era for the Lakers without LeBron.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jul 12, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
