Giannis Antetokounmpo Has Incredible Praise for Lakers Star Luka Doncic

Heat forward Giannis Antetokounmpo has played against just about every great scorer of his era, so people listened when he talked about guard Luka Doncic after Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers ran past Miami 138-117 on Monday night at Crypto.com Arena.

Doncic finished with 42 points on 14-of-24 shooting, 13 assists, seven rebounds and two steals with just two turnovers, and the Lakers improved to 6-2 on the second night of a back-to-back.

Antetokounmpo did his part with 30 points and 12 rebounds, but Miami fell to 2-5.

After the game, Antetokounmpo called Doncic one of the best scorers ever to play the game, if not the best, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin.

When a reporter tried to add that he meant right now, the two-time MVP pushed back.

"Not right now. Of all time. I feel like some people are scared to say that, but he's got to be up there," Antetokounmpo said.

That is a big statement from a player with nearly 22,000 career points, and the numbers back it up.

Per ESPN, Doncic's career scoring average of 29.32 points sits right behind only Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain, and his playoff average is even higher.

Doncic has been on a tear lately, with Monday marking his fourth game of 40 or more points in his past five, and he has averaged 43.4 points over that stretch, according to ESPN.

It was also his fifth straight game with at least 20 points in the first half, which ESPN Research said made him the first Laker to do that since Kobe Bryant in 2007.

The scoring is only half the story, since Miami blitzed Doncic seven times when he used a ball screen, and the Lakers scored on six of those trips, per ESPN.

Los Angeles finished with 39 assists, the most since head coach JJ Redick took over in 2024-25, and Doncic has been just as happy to make the right pass as he is to take the big shot.

His teammates have noticed too, and guard Quentin Grimes has already praised the way Doncic is shooting during this run.

When the best player on the floor makes the game this easy for everyone else, the whole offense gets better.

What stands out to me is that the Lakers are winning without needing Doncic to be perfect on defense, even though he has answered questions about that side of the floor this season.

If he keeps scoring like this and the role players keep cashing in on his passes, this team can stay near the top of the Western Conference all year.

The Lakers move on to a road game at Sacramento on Wednesday night.

Forward Adou Thiero is still out with a knee injury, though Redick said Monday that he has taken part in live action and could be available by the end of the week.

Antetokounmpo is listed as probable for Miami's game against the Clippers on Wednesday with a sprained right wrist.

Giannis has seen a lot of great players so when he puts Doncic in the all-time conversation, I am not going to argue with him.