Kyrie Irving, never one to shy away from dishing out high praise when it’s warranted, recently gave the basketball world a vivid glimpse into the spectacle that is Luka Dončić behind the scenes. In a practice setting, far from the roaring crowds, bright lights, and broadcast cameras, the Slovenian superstar is, apparently, even more ridiculous than we thought. According to Irving, Dončić isn’t just good in practice—he’s transcendent. “He’s giving you probably like 60, 18, and 18,” Irving said with an almost bewildered smile. “I witnessed him give somebody 24 points in 3 minutes.” That kind of output, even in a setting less formal than an NBA game, still shocks the senses. It affirms what many have suspected for years: Luka Dončić is one of the most naturally gifted offensive players the league has ever seen.
These comments from Kyrie come as no surprise to those who have watched Dončić systematically dismantle NBA defenses since his arrival in the league in 2018. What’s notable, however, is the scale and specificity of Irving’s praise. Dropping 24 points in three minutes is not just dominance—it’s annihilation. It means Dončić was not only scoring at will but doing so with such control and rhythm that defenders couldn’t even adjust before he had racked up an entire game’s worth of buckets for some role players. And this wasn’t some random fan or assistant coach making this claim—it was Kyrie Irving, an NBA champion and one of the most skilled offensive guards in league history, who has gone toe-to-toe with the best of the best. For him to witness that and be openly stunned says everything.
Irving’s tone also hints at a kind of reverence, not just for Luka’s game, but for the artistry of it. For Kyrie, who himself has been called the most skilled ball handler the league has ever seen, to highlight another player’s practice dominance in such glowing terms tells us that this isn’t just about stats. It’s about control. Flow. Imagination. Timing. IQ. There’s a rhythm to basketball that can’t always be quantified, and what Dončić seems to do—both in games and in practice—is manipulate that rhythm to his will. He’s not just reacting to the game; he’s conducting it.
Dončić’s practice performances also reveal something deeper about his mentality. The best players in NBA history often have an obsessive edge, a kind of maniacal desire to be better in every moment, whether the world is watching or not. What Kyrie described—Luka going off in scrimmages, dominating with video-game numbers—is a window into the type of competitor Dončić is when there are no cameras. Some stars coast in practice, saving their best for when it counts. Not Luka. To him, every moment on the court matters, and every rep is a chance to perfect the symphony he conducts each night. It also underscores why he is so durable mentally. Dončić is a player who has played professionally since his early teens. He’s used to pressure, expectations, and fatigue. But he also treats the process with deep respect. That shows in how he prepares.
What also makes Irving’s account compelling is the physical toll Luka takes on defenders. “I witnessed him give somebody 24 in 3 minutes.” Think about that from a defender’s point of view. There’s no time to recover. No time to breathe. It’s just bucket after bucket, pass after pass, rebound after rebound. To give up 24 points in that span means you never even had a chance to adjust. It suggests complete control—Dončić dictating pace, tempo, and positioning at a level so high that the defender might as well have been standing still. It’s not about luck or a hot hand. It’s about sustained, ruthless efficiency and brilliance.
Kyrie also indirectly emphasized the magnitude of Dončić’s basketball IQ. It’s not just the numbers that impress—it’s how he gets them. Luka isn’t the fastest. He’s not the most athletic. But he’s always in the right spot. He anticipates movements before they happen. He throws passes that carve apart help defense. He manipulates big men with hesitation dribbles, jab steps, and feints. His mind is three steps ahead, and it all flows through his hands like jazz. The “60, 18, and 18” stat line isn’t just hyperbole; it’s a testament to his ability to impact every phase of the game. Rebounding, assisting, scoring—it’s all within his command. He’s not just running plays; he’s creating the geometry on the floor.
