“Kinda Like Same Position”: Raptors HC Addresses Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic Comparison After Lakers Star’s Historic Performance

The comparisons between Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic never really go away. The Lakers and Nuggets don’t meet until December 23, but after Doncic tore apart the Toronto Raptors on Sunday night, the debate came up again. This time, it was Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic who weighed in.

Rajakovic has a unique view of both players. He’s known Doncic since Doncic arrived at Real Madrid as a 14-year-old, and like Jokic, he’s Serbian. After the Lakers’ 131-125 win, The Athletic’s Law Murray asked him how the two compare.

“I mean, different positions, but kind of like same position playmakers, both of them. They're just capable to playmake for them, for the team, to score,” Rajakovic said. “I think their understanding of the game and the pace that they play at is allowing them to see the game with different eyes.”

Doncic, against the Raptors, finished with 45 points, a season-high 15 rebounds, six assists and five steals, hitting 8 of 12 threes and all 13 of his free throws. It was his 20th 40-point game in 98 regular-season games with the Lakers, and he now leads the NBA at 37.7 points per game.

The comparison makes sense on paper, even though they play very differently. Both run their team’s offense, with Doncic averaging 7.3 assists and Jokic 9.2. But Doncic, a 6-foot-8 playmaker, is the bigger scorer. He’s shooting 43.2% from three and works mostly on the perimeter with the ball in his hands.

Jokic, a 6-foot-11 center, runs Denver’s offense from the post, off cuts and on short rolls. He’s averaging 21.2 points through five games, and his size lets him control the game near the rim as well as anyone in the league.

But despite the initial differences in their play styles, both Doncic and Jokic have been pretty much the cornerstones of their respective teams. Their court vision and elite basketball IQ elevate their teammates, control the pace of the game, and help capitalize on any defensive slip-ups by the opponents. And Rajakovic had to agree that it isn’t easy to guard either of these two.

“Those two guys, you cannot speed them up,” he added to the same segment. “They're big for their position. They can see the full court. They can make all of those decisions and are very capable scorers. They are, you know, top five players in the league right now. So, it’s an extremely hard task to guard both of them.”

One thing Rajakovic didn’t get into was defense, which has always been a so-called weakness of Doncic. Jokic, a three-time MVP, is generally seen as the more reliable defender, and his rebounding (9.8 per game this season) helps Denver finish possessions and get out in transition.

But Sunday was a different story for Doncic. He forced eight Toronto turnovers, with five steals and three charges drawn. According to ESPN Research, he’s the first player to do both in the same game since player tracking began in 2013-14.

Doncic is in his ninth NBA season, and Jokic is in his 12th. Who’s better will keep getting argued for years. For now, Rajakovic’s point is that they’re the same kind of problem: big, patient playmakers who can’t be rushed.