Eight years after the 2018 NBA Draft, the debate over who should have been the top pick is reaching a fever pitch. Luka Dončić just delivered a historic season, averaging 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 8.3 assists—numbers that rival the greatest campaigns in league history. Meanwhile, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder posted 31.1 points on an incredible 55.3% shooting and is a finalist for his second straight MVP award.
With both superstars putting up legendary years, Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey re-ranked the 2018 draft class—and made a bold call that flips the original order. Bailey slotted Gilgeous-Alexander at No. 1 and Dončić at No. 2, basing the decision on overall impact rather than just raw scoring.
On paper, Dončić’s résumé is jaw-dropping. Over his first 514 games, he racked up 15,021 points, 4,376 rebounds, and 4,230 assists—a statistical combination no other player has matched in that span. He currently ranks third in career scoring average and fourth in career box plus/minus. Those are Hall of Fame numbers, no question.
But Gilgeous-Alexander’s recent trophy case has tilted the scales. In 2025, he won both MVP and Finals MVP while leading the league in scoring, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, and Shaquille O’Neal as the only players to accomplish that trifecta in a single season. He also became just the second guard in NBA history—alongside Jordan—to average 30 points on 50% shooting for four straight seasons.
Efficiency is where the separation truly happens. Since 2022, Gilgeous-Alexander has matched Dončić’s production while outperforming him in shooting percentages, box plus/minus, and wins over replacement. Having two MVP awards to Dončić’s zero made the choice much clearer for Bailey.
Dončić’s season wasn’t without obstacles. He played just 64 games, one short of the league’s award threshold, after missing time for the birth of his daughter. While the NBA ultimately granted him eligibility, the situation highlighted how injuries and timing have slowed his postseason momentum compared to the steady rise of Gilgeous-Alexander.
For the Lakers and Thunder, this debate isn’t just about stats—it’s about who delivers when the stakes are highest. And right now, the script has flipped.