Every now and again, an exceptional NBA player emerges who is well-known throughout the basketball community. Such a player, whose talent cuts across generations and unites the basketball-watching public, is celebrated by both current players and former greats.

One player that bridges the gap between one pro basketball era and the next is Luka Doncic.Although Doncic’s pace and defensive prowess may not be the best, he is a fantastic individual talent who has amassed enormous stats since joining the NBA in 2018. NBA legend Allen Iverson lavished Doncic with praise this week, although he had some odd things to say about the five-time All-Star guard.

Iverson: Doncic performs like a man of color.

In an interview with Shaquille O’Neal’s “Big Podcast,” Irving complimented Doncic on his ability to manage the tempo of a game and his composure when dismantling a defense. The 24-year-old plays “like a black guy,” according to the Philadelphia 76ers veteran, who also claimed that Doncic’s style of play had elements of streetball. O’Neal had to correct the statement, stating that Doncic has “swag.”

Earlier in the season, Doncic scored a career-high 73 points—his third 50-point performance as a young player—against the Atlanta Hawks. In pursuit of his first MVP trophy, the Dallas Mavericks star leads the NBA in points per game this season, scoring 34.2 points per night. In addition, Doncic is averaging a career-high 9.5 assists and 8.8 rebounds per game despite playing an average of more than 37 minutes.

Mavericks getting hotter

The Mavericks had a mediocre start to the season before going on a six-game winning streak heading into the All-Star break, where they currently sit one game out of fifth place in the Western Conference.With a 32-23 record, Dallas is in seventh in the West and will face the Phoenix Suns, who are currently in fifth place, on Thursday night in a pivotal home opener.

Doncic was successful even when the Mavericks weren’t playing at their best. This season, he has tallied 10 triple-doubles, marking his fifth straight season with at least that many, and he has averaged about the same numbers in both victories and defeats.

When Doncic plays, Dallas has a 29-18 record this season. The Slovene has averaged 35.8 points on 52 percent shooting, 9.5 assists, and 8.8 rebounds per game in those 29 victories. Doncic’s shooting percentage drops to 45% in the 18 losses, yet he still manages to score 31.6 points, 9.6 assists, and 8.8 rebounds in those contests.