Luka Doncic

[Kentavicius]

Watch on YouTube

What a 4th quarter.

[JPF]

The only prediction I can make regarding Dončič with certanty, is that whoever can't stand euro hype, will have to avoid this thread, because Dončič is on a great path to top all those previous hypes combined if he keeps going like this.

[BillyKingGM]

Buford/Pop would not hesitate to take Markelle Fultz/Lonzo Ball/Josh Jackson/Dennis Smith Jr and maybe Isaac/Tatum over Doncic. Same probably could be said for Michael Porter Jr, Mo Bamba and DeAndre Ayton.

Did he tell you so? Because he told me that Doncic would have meaningful minutes in his rotation this year.

Hey, please do me a favor. Watch tonight's game then call Popovich again.

Now seriously. Look at the size of those guys you mention rivals'. Don't be so stubborn, The difference is quite obvious. How many of them will get to be professionals? Probably none of them besides the ones you mention.

And about them: they are just prospects, because for example, Ball has a long way to go. Look at his shooting motion. Will he improve? No idea, but he can't go to the NBA shooting like that. Doncic is ready to help in the NBA already.

Are you sick about European busts in the draft? I am sick about Olowakandis, Kwames, Thabeets, Odens, Bennetts (he went -1 PIR in his Euroleague's game today), Flynns,... They are privileged athletes they said. They will learn how to play they said. This is not maths or an athletic competition, man. You can have a player with all the perfect physical requirements to dominate and still being useless for his team.

Trust me, this thread will be bumped and we will compare their numbers once they are all in the league.

Come on bruh. There's no way Poppovich would take Doncic over Fultz. However, Sportsgeek said high school kids, so all the current NCAA prospects are out. I think Doncic is probably tops in 2018.

[reanimator]

Did he tell you so? Because he told me that Doncic would have meaningful minutes in his rotation this year.

Hey, please do me a favor. Watch tonight's game then call Popovich again.

Now seriously. Look at the size of those guys you mention rivals'. Don't be so stubborn, The difference is quite obvious. How many of them will get to be professionals? Probably none of them besides the ones you mention.

And about them: they are just prospects, because for example, Ball has a long way to go. Look at his shooting motion. Will he improve? No idea, but he can't go to the NBA shooting like that. Doncic is ready to help in the NBA already.

Are you sick about European busts in the draft? I am sick about Olowakandis, Kwames, Thabeets, Odens, Bennetts (he went -1 PIR in his Euroleague's game today), Flynns,... They are privileged athletes they said. They will learn how to play they said. This is not maths or an athletic competition, man. You can have a player with all the perfect physical requirements to dominate and still being useless for his team.

Trust me, this thread will be bumped and we will compare their numbers once they are all in the league.

Come on bruh. There's no way Poppovich would take Doncic over Fultz. However, Sportsgeek said high school kids, so all the current NCAA prospects are out. I think Doncic is probably tops in 2018.

If you read the past couple of pages then you'll see the Euros believe he'd go number one in 2017.

Have to disagree on 2018 but we will see this time next year.

[SportsGuy8]

That explains why Doncic got those several round-MVPs. The formula, stats and numbers must have a soft spot for his looks ...

Even tho I never liked Hezonja, I am not writing him off just yet.

Yeah, same here. I still think he can end up being a solid 6th man type of player, scoring punch from the bench.

I think Doncic might actually be almost as good of a playmaker as Ben Simmons. He seems to be better than JJ, and as good as Ball. I wonder what he would look like if he could lead a team like Ball does.

It's the part of his game that's a bit hidden this year, that's one of the sacrifices he (and his game) had to take playing for such a top team. It's rather unfortunate because it might even be the BEST part of his game.

I hope he doesn't get drafted by a team with a dominant PG, something that's actually quite likely since there's lots of top PGs in this year's draft. And Boston (perhaps the most likely destination for Doncic) already has a dominant PG (even if Isaiah is running hotter than the sun this year and returns back to the mean next year).

try to keep up. He's obviously a very skilled and talented young man. But to raise him to Lebron status and #1 overall in the draft there are other factors at play here. Has to be. Because he ain't THAT good. Jeter was also propped up by his looks. Dude won awards when he didn't deserve them and at one time was maybe the 3rd best young SS behind Nomar and Arod yet he received the lion's share of media attention. Looks do play a major role in whether a great player becomes a star attraction.

I sarcastically mentioned his round-MVPs because they are FORMULA-based, meaning there were NO actual voters! So essentially, you're saying the formula, stats and numbers have a soft spot for his looks!

Btw., "LeBron status"? How many prospects are even out there that can even be close to a "LeBron status"? The only one that came close was probably Greg Oden. In most drafts, you can even be the number 1 pick without being anywhere close to the prospect LeBron was.

[SportsGuy8]

That last night's play was reminiscent of Bodiroga, although Doncic will never have the same handles.

Here's a video showing just what elite skill and mind can do to great athleticism:

Watch on YouTube

And Bodiroga was one of the least athletic stars in history.

Unfortunately we never saw him in the NBA. But we will see a bit less skilled, but more athletic version of him soon.

[BoardCrusher]

Trust me, this thread will be bumped and we will compare their numbers once they are all in the league.

Come on bruh. There's no way Poppovich would take Doncic over Fultz. However, Sportsgeek said high school kids, so all the current NCAA prospects are out. I think Doncic is probably tops in 2018.

If you read the past couple of pages then you'll see the Euros believe he'd go number one in 2017.

Have to disagree on 2018 but we will see this time next year.

Also, if we go a few pages back, I remember you talking about him getting overdrafted and how some dumb coach will probably want him on his team.
So it seems you already have your excuses made up, in case he drafts high.
Which leaves to the conclusion you are just trolling, which is not cool as some of us are tryingto enjoy a good discussion about him and his development.
So please stop being a dick.

[SlowPaced]

Doncic is big time. I'd very surprised if he doesn't become a perennial All-Star type in the NBA.

[cloudXXI]

The hype around Doncic makes perfect sense. What Doncic is doing at 17 is something we haven´t seen since Drazen Petrovic.

We are not talking about a prospect, a young guy looking good with great potencial. We are talking about the best 17 years old player we have seen in 30 years. He defends, blocks, rebounds, passes and scores at high level. And he´s clutch as hell.

So the hype is according his performances.

He´s far better than Pau, Antetokoumpo, Dirk or Porzingis were at 17.

The question is: will he be as good as them at 20, 22, 25 years old? We don´t know

So, let´s enjoy watching a once-in-a-lifetime teenager. Because, bust or superstar, in the future, people will talk about what Doncic was doing in 2017.

[Sports Geek]

Buford/Pop would not hesitate to take Markelle Fultz/Lonzo Ball/Josh Jackson/Dennis Smith Jr and maybe Isaac/Tatum over Doncic. Same probably could be said for Michael Porter Jr, Mo Bamba and DeAndre Ayton.

Did he tell you so? Because he told me that Doncic would have meaningful minutes in his rotation this year.

Hey, please do me a favor. Watch tonight's game then call Popovich again.

Now seriously. Look at the size of those guys you mention rivals'. Don't be so stubborn, The difference is quite obvious. How many of them will get to be professionals? Probably none of them besides the ones you mention.

And about them: they are just prospects, because for example, Ball has a long way to go. Look at his shooting motion. Will he improve? No idea, but he can't go to the NBA shooting like that. Doncic is ready to help in the NBA already.

Are you sick about European busts in the draft? I am sick about Olowakandis, Kwames, Thabeets, Odens, Bennetts (he went -1 PIR in his Euroleague's game today), Flynns,... They are privileged athletes they said. They will learn how to play they said. This is not maths or an athletic competition, man. You can have a player with all the perfect physical requirements to dominate and still being useless for his team.

Trust me, this thread will be bumped and we will compare their numbers once they are all in the league.

Look, when I watch High School action is kind of: "Pass it to Will" on the Fresh Prince of Bel Air. A talented kid almost laughing at regular teenagers. I watched a video of Ball, shooting from halfcourt without any reason. In the Euroleague, you are benched forever if you do that. Those kids you mention haven't played a single serious game in their lives. How can you be so sure about their success? We are comparing projects of players with a proven extremely efficient player.

BTW, maybe right now the Euroleague is the best league in the world. We signed the next LeBron James. He is called Anthony Bennett. He went -1 PIR last week.

PS: For the record, I opened this thread because I watched something I couldn't believe. Something that I wanted to share with the community so you can enjoy it too, even when he was just 15. I realized he had something unseen even at that age. I wasn't wrong. I don't have any interest in promoting him. In fact, I would be happy to keep him in Madrid forever. I know it is not possible though. Now many of those ones that said in the beggining of this thread: "he is not athletic enough", "he is not a big deal", disappeared. Maybe you will be the one that will disappear after all of them join the NBA.

[Sports Geek]

Watch on YouTube

What a 4th quarter.

Thanks Kentavicius for always sharing the highlights.

[saphan]

Cluch?
4TH quarter PIR for Real Madrid players, this Euroleague season so far:

[UcanUwill]

As A Euroleague fan, I am a big fan of Doncic. As an NBA fan however, I have doubts still, Euroleague is much better than NCAA, but it also much worse than the NBA, lets be real. Even being an Euroleague star, doesn't guarantee you success in the NBA. But I am starting to believe, this guy looks better by the month, I really think he will figure it, too talented to fail.

[SportsGuy8]

Even being an Euroleague star, doesn't guarantee you success in the NBA.

I think that's only true for those that are severely athletically disadvantaged. Take Teodosic, for example. Most likely he's finally going to try the NBA next year, and while he's so incredibly skilled and a great player, I have serious doubts due to his physical limitations. Unlike Doncic, he's going to need a perfect situation to truly succeed. Doncic also could have problems with really quick guards, but you can easily solve that since he's strong enough that you can put him on someone else.

I think that for everyone who's at least a decent athlete, being an Euroleague star would at the very least almost guarantee being at least a good NBA starter.

There's quite a gap between being a good NBA starter and being a real NBA star, though. I know that that's where you have your doubts ... I have them also. We'll just have to wait and see ...

[Johnny Firpo]

Doncic will probably defend SGs, SFs and maybe even PFs, so it's pretty irrelevant that quick guards would give him trouble today. He will not defend them. On offense, he will play a similar role to Lebron, dominating the ball. Obviously I'm talking about style of play here, not implying anything crazy.

[UcanUwill]

Even being an Euroleague star, doesn't guarantee you success in the NBA.

I think that's only true for those that are severely athletically disadvantaged. Take Teodosic, for example. Most likely he's finally going to try the NBA next year, and while he's so incredibly skilled and a great player, I have serious doubts due to his physical limitations. Unlike Doncic, he's going to need a perfect situation to truly succeed. Doncic also could have problems with really quick guards, but you can easily solve that since he's strong enough that you can put him on someone else.

I think that for everyone who's at least a decent athlete, being an Euroleague star would at the very least almost guarantee being at least a good NBA starter.

There's quite a gap between being a good NBA starter and being a real NBA star, though. I know that that's where you have your doubts ... I have them also. We'll just have to wait and see ...

Teodosic's defense will probably limit his role, but I have no doubt his strengths will translate very well. But look at Sonny Weems, super athletic, some fans might say he wasn't an Euroleague star, his lack of BB IQ is clear, but he was still very good EL player, completely washed up in the NBA.

[BoardCrusher]

Well from sources, he is 2.03m w/o shoes, so that's about 6'9 in shoes, I am not positive he will be every bit of that, but around 6'8-6'9 and he has an elite frame, I think he can play some 4 for sure.

Again, no he isn't. He is listed at 2.00 m (6-7) without shoes and 2.03 m (6-8) with shoes, by his team. And again, he looks shorter than Hunter, who was also measured and listed as 6-8 in shoes by NBA. He's definitely not 6-9.

In a recent interview Doncic himself states he is 2.02m

[reanimator]

Also, if we go a few pages back, I remember you talking about him getting overdrafted and how some dumb coach will probably want him on his team.
So it seems you already have your excuses made up, in case he drafts high.
Which leaves to the conclusion you are just trolling, which is not cool as some of us are tryingto enjoy a good discussion about him and his development.
So please stop being a dick.

I've already stated that Doncic should go anywhere from 4-7 in 2018 and looks like a high-end utility player with an incredibly high floor so tell me how any of this true?

And this thread isn't talking about Doncic' development....its fanboys getting mad at any legit questions anyone brings up about his skills translation to the NBA. Yeah he has great spatial awareness, can knock down 3s, has floaters and push shots, has a terrific frame, can post up, gives effort on D, and can operate as a PnR ballhandler....there is a lot to like but he also doesn't change directions well, lacks length, doesn't show a pull-up, is questionable as a finisher at the rim, and is physically mature for his age. To state that Doncic is somehow a unanimous number 1 pick in 2017 and 2018 draft and throw out names like Lebron, Bird, and Giannis while scoffing at comps to Hayward, Hedo or whomever shows who has the beer goggles.

[BillyKingGM]

Batuuuuum

[SportsGuy8]

Even being an Euroleague star, doesn't guarantee you success in the NBA.

I think that's only true for those that are severely athletically disadvantaged. Take Teodosic, for example. Most likely he's finally going to try the NBA next year, and while he's so incredibly skilled and a great player, I have serious doubts due to his physical limitations. Unlike Doncic, he's going to need a perfect situation to truly succeed. Doncic also could have problems with really quick guards, but you can easily solve that since he's strong enough that you can put him on someone else.

I think that for everyone who's at least a decent athlete, being an Euroleague star would at the very least almost guarantee being at least a good NBA starter.

There's quite a gap between being a good NBA starter and being a real NBA star, though. I know that that's where you have your doubts ... I have them also. We'll just have to wait and see ...

Teodosic's defense will probably limit his role, but I have no doubt his strengths will translate very well. But look at Sonny Weems, super athletic, some fans might say he wasn't an Euroleague star, his lack of BB IQ is clear, but he was still very good EL player, completely washed up in the NBA.

Funny, just the other day I was checking out Sonny Weems' production and it really wasn't that different (NBA vs. Euroleague), he just got to put up a few more shots per game.
His NBA career per36 stats:
12.8ppg (on 11.9 FGA), 4.3rpg, 2.8ast, 0.9stl, 0.3blk
His Euroleague per36 stats:
16.7ppg (on 13.9FGA), 4.4rpg, 4.6ast, 1.0stl, 0.2blk

Sure there are exceptions, but he seems to be another case of a player whose stats translated rather well between the leagues. He was the same athletic freak who just became a bit less inefficient in Euroleague, mostly because he improved his shooting and/or benefited from a shorter 3pt line, combined with a slightly lesser level of competition.

As for Teodosic, I really wish he goes to a team that will know how to use him. Based on his interviews, it seems like he's aware of that very well also and is going to make it his priority. I drool at the thought of him in the NBA. Offensively speaking, the style of play could suit him very well.