Lakers’ Luka Doncic was destined to be NBA’s next sensation — but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stole his ‘Thunder’

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is in the dream position. 

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He’s the reigning MVP and his Thunder are the reigning champions. He’s expected to repeat for that honor. His team is, too. 

That should’ve been Luka Doncic. 

Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander were both drafted in the 2018 class — Doncic at No. 3 and Gilgeous-Alexander at No. 11. Getty Images

In a cruel twist of fate, Doncic will be on the bench Tuesday night, watching the superstar whose trajectory was supposed to be his as the Lakers opened their second-round playoff series against the Thunder in Oklahoma City.

Doncic, who’s out indefinitely because of a strained hamstring, was supposed to be the young hotshot taking over the league.

But his mantle remains empty, while Gilgeous-Alexander’s is decorated with the league’s most prestigious trophies.

Doncic and Gilgeous-Alexander were in the same 2018 draft class. Doncic was selected third by the Mavericks and Gilgeous-Alexander was picked 11th by the Hornets before being traded to the Clippers that night.  

It quickly became clear that Doncic was going to become a sensation. 

In the NBA General Manager Survey ahead of the 2020-21 season, executives were asked if they were starting a franchise today and could sign anyone in the league who they’d pick. 

Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo tied for first place. 

But eight years after Doncic entered the league, he has yet to win a championship or an MVP Award. 

Luka Doncic suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain on April 2 and has missed the last five weeks of action, including Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals vs. the Thunder. AP

Meanwhile, Gilgeous-Alexander is atop the league. For the second straight season he led the Thunder to the best record in the NBA. And according to a player poll by The Athletic, his peers believe he deserves to repeat as MVP this year. 

As for Doncic? 

He wasn’t even an MVP finalist this season despite leading the league in scoring (33.5 points), finishing third in assists (8.3) and sixth in steals (1.6). 

Doncic had an incredible season before suffering the hamstring strain on April 2. He became the second person in NBA history to score 600-plus points in March, alongside Michael Jordan. Over that period, he led the Lakers on a 16-2 run. 

But even though Doncic is a generational talent and one of the league’s top players, his career hasn’t gone as planned so far. 

He was supposed to lead the Mavericks to a championship. He was supposed to win multiple MVPs. He wanted to retire alongside the team that drafted him. 

But while Gilgeous-Alexander’s career has been on a rocket ship’s trajectory, Doncic’s has taken a serpentine road. 

While Doncic enjoyed success early in his career, Gilgeous-Alexander has ascended as the best player in the NBA. Getty Images

The two stars’ paths converged during the 2024 playoffs when they met in the second round. Doncic carried the Mavericks past the Thunder in six games. He went on to reach the Finals for the first and only time in his career. 

Things seemed to be going as planned for the Slovenian superstar. 

But eight months later, he was stunningly dealt to the Lakers.

He was shocked. Devastated. Disheartened. 

He was also disparaged.

Following the deal, whispers came from Dallas’ camp that they were frustrated with the superstar for a myriad of reasons, including his fitness and lack of effort on the defensive end. 

Meanwhile, Gilgeous-Alexander has quietly transformed from a promising young guard into the league’s biggest superstar. 

After the Clippers traded him to the Thunder in 2019, his game flourished. And Thunder general manager Sam Presti put the perfect pieces around him, including Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace and Alex Caruso. 

Gilgeous-Alexander already has an MVP, Finals MVP and title under his belt — but those could all double by the time this postseason ends. NBAE via Getty Images

Last season, the Thunder took over the NBA. 

And they seem poised for another deep playoff run. They have the best defense in the league. And Gilgeous-Alexander is leading all scorers this postseason with 33.8 points a game. 

As for Doncic, this was supposed to be a revenge season for him. 

He came into training camp in arguably the best shape of his career. He carried the Lakers to fourth place in the West. 

But he has been sidelined the last month, including missing the Lakers’ first-round series against the Rockets. 

Now, as he tries to work his way back from a strained hamstring to play in this series, he has to watch the guy whose trajectory should’ve been his.

Doncic was the player everyone expected to lead the league. 

But until he leads his team to the mountaintop, the spotlight firmly belongs to Gilgeous-Alexander.

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