McDavid and Dončić: Their Time to Win
Published: Thursday, June 6, 2024
by Kyle Ferreira
Two superstar athletes – one an international sensation and the other the best player in his sport.
Luka Dončić and Connor McDavid are considered two of the best athletes in the world, regardless of sport. At only 25, Dončić is already one of the best European players to ever play in the NBA. McDavid has been praised as the closest thing to emulating Wayne Gretzky's play.
Surely, at this point in their careers, these talented players have a championship under their belts, right? The short answer is no.
Dončić plays in one of the toughest conferences in any sport, the NBA Western Conference. Three of the last four NBA champions came from the West: the Nuggets, the Warriors, and the Lakers. Those teams featured future Hall of Famers LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Nikola Jokić.
Examining his postseason history with the Dallas Mavericks, the results have been mixed.
During the bubble year of 2020, the Mavericks lost to the Clippers in the first round. Lightning struck twice in 2021, as they lost to the Clippers in the first round once again. In 2022, they made it to the conference finals but lost to the Warriors, and then missed the playoffs the next season in 2023.
However, this year’s NBA Finals might be Luka’s best shot at a ring. There is plenty of talent on the roster, with Kyrie Irving in the backcourt alongside Dončić. He has also been battle-tested, beating the Clippers, the Thunder, and the Timberwolves.
What about McDavid? Since joining the NHL in 2015, he’s won the Hart Trophy three times and the Art Ross Trophy five times. But he still has not won a Stanley Cup.
In hockey, one player cannot carry a team all the way. McDavid's situation is similar to Mike Trout’s with the Los Angeles Angels in MLB. Both are generational players who rack up awards year after year but have no championships.
Like Dončić, McDavid reached the conference finals in 2022 with his team, the Edmonton Oilers, but they were swept by the eventual Stanley Cup winners, the Avalanche.
McDavid's supporting cast this season is perhaps the best he’s ever had. With another Hart winner in Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman having a breakout season, and defenseman Evan Bouchard, it might just be enough. McDavid has also battled through tough series this postseason, especially against the Canucks and Stars.
As the 2024 NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Finals begin, will these two extraordinary players finally win their sports’ biggest prize?
Dončić will have to face the Celtics and Jayson Tatum, while McDavid will go up against Matthew Tkachuk and the Panthers. Tatum and Tkachuk are also seeking their first championships.
While still in their mid to late 20s, McDavid and Dončić in their first Finals appearances could prove to be magical. If one or both could win a title, their resumes would grow exponentially, and they would be championless no longer.
Kyle Ferreira can be reached atkyle.ferreira@student.shu.edu
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