Basketball debates are many times arbitrary in nature, especially when it comes to comparing different NBA eras or trying to decide on the sport’s GOAT. But if there’s one thing many fans can agree on, it’s that they would have no chance defending an NBA player; especially elite ones.
A hypothetical question arose this wweek, courtesy of FIBA Basketball. For $1 million, you would have to guard one of four NBA players for one single possession and stop them from scoring. The four players: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards, Luka Doncic and Jalen Brunson.
Could an average human successfully guard Luka Doncic for one possession?
One fan picked Doncic, with the hope that the Los Angeles Lakers player would lazily shoot a step-back three-pointer instead of taking things seriously and driving to the hoop. That prompted an old clip of Doncic dominating a casual basketball player to resurface.
It wasn’t just a regular guy that Doncic was going up against, either. Tyler Toney from Dude Perfect has made a living from pulling off incredible athletic trick shots and stunts. He’s quite natural on the basketball court, too. But Doncic made it look like he was going up against air.
To be fair to the original poster, there really is no right answer to the initial question. Given that Brunson is the shortest player out of the four, perhaps an average fan would have a better chance against the New York Knicks player, but it’s all hypothetical.
Doncic is the tallest of the ones mentioned, and in many fans’ eyes, the most talented offensively. Most would take their chance with a shorter player, unless they have some prior collegiate or pro basketball experience.









