Ja Morant vs Luka Doncic is shaping up to be a Western Conference point guard rivalry

The differences between Luka Doncic and Ja Morant are so noticeable that it's easy to overlook the similarities.

Both players excel at getting to and finishing around the rim. Doncic is a bigger point guard for the Dallas Mavericks who thrives with elite shiftiness and a 6-foot-7 bulky frame that allows him to bully smaller players and yell, “He’s too small.” as he is known to say.

Morant is a slim 6-foot-3 and is one of the NBA's fastest and most explosive point guards. His stop-and-start ability keeps defenders off balance, and he can often just rise above them with his leaping ability for the Memphis Grizzlies.

“Luka would say he can jump like Ja, but that’s just a joke,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd said.

Grizzlies rookie Ziaire Williams guarded Doncic in Sunday's 104-91 loss to Dallas. His explanation of Doncic's style was about the exact opposite of what players say about Morant.

“He’s a three-level scorer and he plays at his own pace," Williams said. "Luka is one of the slower, I guess you could sort of speak guards, but he uses his body very well."

Both star point guards were heralded as franchise cornerstones before turning pro, but neither was the No. 1 pick. Doncic went third in the 2018 NBA Draft behind Deandre Ayton (Phoenix) and Marvin Bagley (Sacramento). Morant was picked second in 2019 after Zion Williamson (New Orleans).

Then there’s the fandom. Doncic is already an NBA All-Star and was second behind Stephen Curry among Western Conference guards in the NBA’s first fan voting update. Morant was third. A week later, Morant won his second player of the week award this season and passed Doncic in fan voting.

But there is also a mutual respect. Doncic posted Morant up last season and went to his one-legged fadeaway at the free-throw line. Morant, who was mic’d up, complimented Doncic by saying, “Woooo, tough bucket boy,” as they ran back down the floor.

Doncic said Morant deserved all the attention he was getting with passing the Mavs star in the All-Star voting.

“He’s just a different player,” Doncic said. “His athleticism is above everything. He jumps out of the gym.”

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This isn’t a rivalry yet. Not enough has happened for that to be the case, but get used to seeing two of the league’s premier point guards battle for Western Conference supremacy.

Six point guards were among the top 10 of all-star voting for Western Conference guards. Morant and Doncic are both 22, and the other four top vote-getters were 31 and above.

“You talk about two players that want to win and will do anything to win,” Kidd said. “It’s great to see the game have two young point guards in this league that can dominate the game.”

The Mavericks (27-20) went 3-1 against the Grizzlies (32-17) this season, including 3-0 with Doncic on the floor. Doncic averaged 29.3 points in those games. Morant was 0-2 against the Mavericks and averaged 27 points in his two games.

It all sets up for one of the NBA's premier point guard rivalries of the future. Memphis is the No. 3 seed in the West and Dallas is fifth, putting the two teams in range for a potential showdown in the playoffs. A three-six or four-five matchup is the most likely option.

“If we’re going to get them, it’s going to be really tough to beat them,” Doncic said of a potential playoff meeting. “We have to be prepared.”

A lot more season is left, but both teams are clicking while their point guards rise up the MVP boards. The NBA and its fans strive when stars face off, and this point guard battle is the league's next rivalry.

Contact Damichael Cole at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com and on Twitter @damichaelc

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Ja Morant and Luka Doncic becoming next NBA Western Conference rivalry