Luka Doncic just showed the Blazers why Deni Avdija isn’t a superstar yet

Reese Kunz of Rip City Project argues that Luka Doncic's 53-point performance against the Portland Trail Blazers highlights why Portland still lacks the top-tier superstar needed to be a true NBA contender. The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Trail Blazers 124-118 in NBA Cup action, with Doncic recording 53 points, five rebounds, and five assists to continue a prolific early-season scoring run.

While Portland holds a 6-2 record with Deni Avdija as the team's primary focal point, Kunz contends that relying on Avdija puts the team at a severe disadvantage against elite Western Conference stars. The article notes Portland faces a challenging stretch against Victor Wembanyama's San Antonio Spurs and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's Oklahoma City Thunder.