THE NBA has seen many young prospects hurriedly heralded as the “next LeBron James” – but in the case of Luka Doncic,

the comparison rings truer than ever.

At least, that’s what James thinks.

“The way he plays the game reminds me of the way I play the game,” the Los Angeles Lakers superstar said during the 2022 All-Star Weekend.

Game recognizes game – and the sentiment goes both ways.

Doncic doesn’t hide the fact he idolizes James. He always has.

He declared for the 2018 NBA Draft as the EuroLeague’s youngest-ever MVP and Final Four MVP.

The 6-foot-7 guard helped Real Madrid claim the EuroLeague title earlier that year – having already won the European championship with Slovenia in 2017.

At 19, Doncic was already a full-blown basketball star with years of professional experience.

Yet, in his debut season with the Mavericks, he would approach his first matchup against James with the excitement of a small child going to Disneyland for the very first time.

“I was waiting for this game, and it was very special to me,” he would say at the time.

Despite his lengthy resume and undeniable potential, many still approached the Slovenian whizkid with skepticism in the lead-up to the 2018 Draft.

He is European, after all – and the NBA’s Euro bias is real.

The Phoenix Suns took Deandre Ayton with the no. 1 pick and the Sacramento Kings selected Marvin Bagley III right after at no. 2 before Adam Silver could call Doncic’s name.

The Slovenian would never even played for the team that drafted him as the Atlanta Hawks famously shipped him to Dallas that same night, in exchange for the rights to Trae Young and a protected 2019 first-rounder.

James, on the other hand, immediately knew the Mavericks’ new no. 77 had a bright future when the two finally met on the rookie’s “special” day.

Doncic put up 14 points, seven assists, and five rebounds when he and the Mavericks went to LA for a clash with the Lakers.

And during the game, he got James to promise he would get the four-time MVP’s game-worn jersey.

After the Mavericks fell 114-113, the young guard stood in the hallway of then-Staples Center, patiently waiting for the great gift.

“I always wanted his jersey,” Doncic said back then.

A team official finally handed him a signed No. 23 Lakers top with a message from James that read: “To Luka D. God bless and continue to strive for greatness.”

In many different ways, their careers have been intertwined ever since.

Doncic wowed the NBA right out of the gate, recording 24.2 points per game before his 21st birthday. In the league’s entire history, only James averaged more before turning 21.

Also, the Slovenian has played for Team LeBron every year since his All-Star Game debut back in 2020.

And the numbers show James and Doncic have basically been the same player over the past three seasons.

There are only two players averaging at least 26 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists since the start of 2019-20: LeBron and Luka.

It’s no coincidence the Lakers and the Mavericks play each other on Christmas Day for the second time in the last three years.

The NBA typically reserves the holiday schedule for very special matchups – like a clash between the face of the league and its heir to the throne.

And James has hinted on many an occasion that he knows Doncic is the one.

“I love everything about his game. I love everything about him,” he said of the Mavs star during this year’s All-Star Weekend.

“We’re triple threats, we rebound, we pass – which is the number one thing on our mind, trying to keep our teammates engaged, keeping our teammates feeling good on the floor, keeping our teammates in rhythm.

“And we will put 40 on you, too, if you disrespect us.”

Game recognizes game.