Luka Doncic hints that he might stay in Europe next season

[City of Trees]

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[the7boss]

He doesn't pass the eye test as your prototypical NBA electric superstar, but he's a winner. Period.
Subpar game by Doncic today but still got things done and coped with an enormous amount of pressure at 19y old.

[traax]

He doesn't pass the eye test as your prototypical NBA electric superstar, but he's a winner. Period.
Subpar game by Doncic today but still got things done and coped with an enormous amount of pressure at 19y old.

He is basically playing for 1 1/2 years straight at this point. The offseason will do wonders for him. I am surprised that he has that big of an impact without any offtime in this time period.

[SixersRelated]

Doncic is an amazing prospect. Winning the Euroleague MVP at only 19 is not an easy thing, and he led Real Madrid by himself to win the European title. He's going to become a star if he'll continue that way, and if he'll be drafted by the right team which will develop him the most. I think there was never a draft prospect like Doncic, he has an amazing & exceptional work ethic which I believe will lead him to a great career. It'll be a waste if he'll not be drafted 1st by Phoenix.

[lambchop]

Doncic is an amazing prospect. Winning the Euroleague MVP at only 19 is not an easy thing, and he led Real Madrid by himself to win the European title. He's going to become a star if he'll continue that way, and if he'll be drafted by the right team which will develop him the most. I think there was never a draft prospect like Doncic, he has an amazing & exceptional work ethic which I believe will lead him to a great career. It'll be a waste if he'll not be drafted 1st by Phoenix.

Only dallas and Memphis could do that. Just like every rookie he will have to figure out a lot by himself and hope that a more established player like dragic might mentor him

[Grahf]

Watching euroleague, he really reminds me of Jayson Tatum. The footwork, the skillset of a veteran wing in a teenager, the excellent mechanics on his jumpshot, his amazing instincts, all really impressive. And like Tatum and Ben Simmons, I think he’ll be a better defender than most people expect. Selfishly I hope he comes over so I can watch him next year.

[Wagonband]

to 2rdth of June:

Again, this thread is such fake news. There is no way in hell he isn't coming to the NBA next year... It's just like LeBron not saying where he is going to play next, because it would be unprofessional to do, despite the fact i'm 99% sure he knows what he will do when Cleveland doesn't win the title. And has known for some time

[Grahf]

Phoenix should take Doncic. Maybe Ayton has generational athletic ability that closes the gap.
But if the NBA has taught us anything over the last 15 years it's that you take the highly skilled forward over the unskilled center every single time.

Not saying its the exact same situation or anything but Portland hears ya

Not to rub salt in an old wound, but I still believe that if Oden’s legs had been the same length and he had been able to stay healthy, he would’ve been on Durant’s level. Re-watch the NCAA championship game, OSU versus Florida. Oden played injured, he was younger than Horford and Noah who would both become elite NBA defenders, and he dominated them. People compared him to Shaq for a reason.

[SixersRelated]

Doncic is an amazing prospect. Winning the Euroleague MVP at only 19 is not an easy thing, and he led Real Madrid by himself to win the European title. He's going to become a star if he'll continue that way, and if he'll be drafted by the right team which will develop him the most. I think there was never a draft prospect like Doncic, he has an amazing & exceptional work ethic which I believe will lead him to a great career. It'll be a waste if he'll not be drafted 1st by Phoenix.

Only dallas and Memphis could do that. Just like every rookie he will have to figure out a lot by himself and hope that a more established player like dragic might mentor him

Suns are a very young team, and there isn't a leader/vet who can mentor Doncic and be his right-hand man in the NBA. It'll probably be a problem if they'll choose him and not deal their 1st pick as their GM said they maybe would.

If I'm Phoenix Suns' GM, I would trade for a European vet (like Dragic, Bogdanovic, Valanciunas) who can help Doncic entering the NBA and guide him.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Phoenix should take Doncic. Maybe Ayton has generational athletic ability that closes the gap.
But if the NBA has taught us anything over the last 15 years it's that you take the highly skilled forward over the unskilled center every single time.

Not saying its the exact same situation or anything but Portland hears ya

Not to rub salt in an old wound, but I still believe that if Oden’s legs had been the same length and he had been able to stay healthy, he would’ve been on Durant’s level. Re-watch the NCAA championship game, OSU versus Florida. Oden played injured, he was younger than Horford and Noah who would both become elite NBA defenders, and he dominated them. People compared him to Shaq for a reason.

Oh no doubt, he wasn't like a Thabeet type pick, I wish Blazers had kept him lean and given him lots of mental help off the court - instead they let him wallow in depression and alcoholism while bulking him up - but the different length legs may have just been a flaw too fatal to overcome though.

I'm just looking historically and in the modern era the league is run by wings and forwards. Even transcendent bigs like Anthony Davis and Embiid struggle with health and the current pace and space era that takes away some of their big advantages. They are great to have but just statistically its the wings/forwards who end up winning chips.

[Grahf]

Not saying its the exact same situation or anything but Portland hears ya

Not to rub salt in an old wound, but I still believe that if Oden’s legs had been the same length and he had been able to stay healthy, he would’ve been on Durant’s level. Re-watch the NCAA championship game, OSU versus Florida. Oden played injured, he was younger than Horford and Noah who would both become elite NBA defenders, and he dominated them. People compared him to Shaq for a reason.

I'm just looking historically and in the modern era the league is run by wings and forwards. Even transcendent bigs like Anthony Davis and Embiid struggle with health and the current pace and space era that takes away some of their big advantages. They are great to have but just statistically its the wings/forwards who end up winning chips.

Reading this really makes me want to see what Phoenix would become three years from now with a core of Booker, Jackson and Doncic.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

I'm just looking historically and in the modern era the league is run by wings and forwards. Even transcendent bigs like Anthony Davis and Embiid struggle with health and the current pace and space era that takes away some of their big advantages. They are great to have but just statistically its the wings/forwards who end up winning chips.

Reading this really makes me want to see what Phoenix would become three years from now with a core of Booker, Jackson and Doncic.

My biggest concern with this scenario is that if they take Doncic they may make a big offer to Nurkic and try and poach him from the Blazers...

[NashtyNas]

I’m skeptical about guards who dominate internationally until I see them here bc the comp level is different. I also often view European pgs as kinda slow footed (right or not); I value quick feet and the ability to penetrate over being tall and guarding multiple positions. Further, many of the guys who won Euroleague MVP are guys who were role players here, if they ever do come, so I take it with a grain of salt.

Seems like you're attributing your personal biases to a player without actually evaluating his game.
Doncic is one of the best at penetrating and finishing and he's extremely crafty - somewhat similar to a Manu Ginobili who a lot of people have compared him to. He isn't the fastest laterally so he has to use body control to finish in close or draw contact, which he's extremely good at.

His biggest knock is the lateral quickness which is going to need to improve for him to be a defensive stopper and a better finisher at the NBA level, but he's already so polished in terms of floaters and midrange shooting that it rarely hurts him offensively at the current level.

There are worse knocks against a guy like Ayton who's motor has been questioned at every level, as well as his desire. From what I've read, he's motivated by the money more so than the game - which is understandable given his situation but not something I'd bet my franchises future on.

Like I said, since we need high level talent, I'm open to any of who I consider the top 3 prospects in Doncic, Bagley & Ayton (in that order). I know most people likely have Ayton #1 because of that freakish frame and unmatched athleticism we haven't seen in a while.

But I do encourage you to look at players for what they can specifically do against their current competition rather than look at players through a biased lens. Euroleague competition has drastically changed over the years, and each player is different. And just because the MVP guards have flamed out in the past doesn't mean Doncic can't be more like Manu than a flamed out Sergio Rodriguez or Sergio Lull.

[RIPskaterdude]

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Future teammates

[SlowPaced]

Wins gold medal with Slovenia at the Eurobasket and makes the All-Tournament team at 18. Wins the title, MVP and Final Four MVP in Euroleague at 19.

No matter what you think about his NBA prospects, this is an insane resume.

[uvlOzzy]

Watch on YouTube

What Rudy Fernandez (and probably everyone in Real) thinks about Luka staying. Starts at 1:27

[Inspektor1312]

Dončić: We had balls, I'm going to the NBA

Luka Dončić, officially the best player in Euroleague, after winning the title of the European champion in Belgrade, announced what was expected - leaving to the NBA.

The Slovenian said goodbye to the strongest competition in Europe in the best way, and confirmed that this summer he will be moving to the USA.

"Most probably, I'm going to the NBA. This is the best way to leave Real. It's amazing lifting the throphy in Belgrade, I'm speechless", said Dončić to the Serbian reporters after the game in Štark arena.

"It's an amazing feeling being the European champion, I think we deserved the throphy. We played with our brains and hearts, we had balls and that's what gave us the win", added Dončić in his interview for Sportklub.

...

Will his next team be Phoenix? The decision will be made by Igor Kokoškov, the new head coach of the Suns, who are choosing first at the NBA draft.

http://mondo.rs/a1105568/Sport/Kosarka/Luka-Doncic-potvrdio-da-ide-u-NBA.html

[WeTheNorth123]

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oh ma future team mates

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Wins gold medal with Slovenia at the Eurobasket and makes the All-Tournament team at 18. Wins the title, MVP and Final Four MVP in Euroleague at 19.

No matter what you think about his NBA prospects, this is an insane resume.

I wonder what other top draft picks came to the NBA with his type of professional accolades, especially at such a young age.

[WeTheNorth123]

Wins gold medal with Slovenia at the Eurobasket and makes the All-Tournament team at 18. Wins the title, MVP and Final Four MVP in Euroleague at 19.

No matter what you think about his NBA prospects, this is an insane resume.

Exactly its tough Ayton or Luka

I think they may go with luka, his resume is just too good to pass up plus the coaching connection....

Ayton has a higher ceiling though