2021 NBA Draft: Cade Cunningham may not be the next Luka Doncic, but their offensive similarities are striking

It's easy to see why NBA front offices are so excited about the projected No. 1 pick

Draft comps have become a running joke in the NBA. Every 6-foot-8, wingspan hero who averaged five points in college is the next Kawhi Leonard. Every versatile, athletic big is a jump shot away from being Anthony Davis. Every sharpshooting point guard who likes to pull up from 30 feet is ludicrously compared to Steph Curry. So when you hear that Cade Cunningham, the projected top pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, has drawn comparisons to Luka Doncic since his high school days, your skepticism is beyond justified. On the surface it makes sense. Cunningham's listed measurements of 6-foot-8, 220 pounds are nearly identical to those of Doncic, who is 6-7, 230. Both are big point guards who don't possess elite speed or leaping ability. The 19-year-old Cunningham averaged 20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists in his only season at Oklahoma State, while Doncic averaged 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and six assists at the same age during his rookie NBA season with the Dallas Mavericks. Both have made memorable clutch baskets early in their careers.