The NBA has always been shaped by stars who change the way the game is played. Among the many names, Luka Doncic remains one of the most crafty playmakers and scorers in the league. But according to one former NBA All-Star, the blueprint for the Lakers star was established years earlier by another superstar.
The veteran role model is none other than James Harden. The Cavaliers star set a different standard during his MVP-caliber runs in 2018 and 2019. Former Celtics star Isaiah Thomas believes Harden and Doncic share a strong stylistic connection.
“There’s no Luka if James Harden doesn’t exist,” Thomas wrote on X. He further added that Harden is underappreciated in the NBA. “James Harden changed the game and he doesn’t get enough credit.” The 5-foot-9 point guard then pointed out the similarities between Luka’s and Harden’s styles.
Thomas wrote, “Luka plays exactly how prime Harden played in Houston. And you couldn’t stop NOTHING!!!! Real hoop game with manipulation of the game to go in they favor OMG.” Thomas’ argument centers on Harden’s legendary tenure with the Houston Rockets, particularly during his MVP season.
During the 2017–18 campaign, Harden delivered one of the most dominant offensive seasons in recent history. He led the Rockets to a franchise-record 65 victories while averaging 30.4 points, 8.8 assists, and 5.4 rebounds per game, ultimately winning the NBA Most Valuable Player Award.
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However, Harden took his scoring to another level the following season. In 2018–19, he averaged an incredible 36.1 points per game, the highest scoring average in the NBA since Michael Jordan’s peak years in the late 1980s. Notably, no other player in the league averaged even 30.0 points that season.
Doncic’s game now incorporates many of the qualities Thomas mentioned, including ball-dominant playmaking, long step-back threes, and a masterful ability to draw fouls. Although the Lakers star has developed his own unique style, there are still clear remnants of Harden’s dominance in Houston.
For Thomas, the message was simple: Harden had already shown the basketball world how devastating that style of play could be long before Doncic’s brilliance captivated the league.
