All Things Luka Doncic

[SportsGuy8]

Doncic is actually the most consistent player on the Slovenia team. You know you can expect about 15 points, 7 rebs, 5 assists in 30 min on this team. If he had the keys, his averages would be even higher as the usage rate would go up significantly.

I think he is playing with more confidence than the first 2 games, he is getting better with each game and it will be interesting to see what he does against Latvia (most likely) in the next round when the pressure is on.

Doncic is way better than Dragic is. It's just die hard hardcore NBA only fans that can't admit that. Dragic's whole game is running fast then trying to draw a foul or throwing up a mid range jumper.

He's miles away from the skill level and talent Doncic has already at 18.

Doncic is obviously a much better all-around player and while Dragic could be considered somewhat of a "one trick" pony (he's really not, though), he's absolutely ELITE at that "one trick", especially in the NBA.

And that "one trick" is still the absolute key thing in basketball! At the end of the day, being able to actually put the ball in the basket is still the key in this game.

And that's coming from me, someone who despises score-first guards.

[pacersGM]

Doncic is obviously a much better all-around player and while Dragic could be considered somewhat of a "one trick" pony (he's really not, though), he's absolutely ELITE at that "one trick", especially in the NBA.

And that "one trick" is still the absolute key thing in basketball! At the end of the day, being able to actually put the ball in the basket is still the key in this game.

And that's coming from me, someone who despises score-first guards.

3/4 nba point guards are score first guards. no one really cares about rubios 9 assist per game and great court vision if he gives you 10 points per game. 6-7 assist will get you top 10-15 in the nba.

so to everyone who is expecting 8 assist per game from doncic in the nba, should consider wich stars have the ball enough in their hands to do that (harden, westbrook, lebron, chris paul, john wall). you really project doncic to have such a role/impact on an nba franchise to do that? if you do, you have to put a prime doncic in those players class. my opinion is, thats not happening.

[SportsGuy8]

That's why we all keep repeating that Doncic's role is going to be the key to his success.

Maybe he ends up on a team that's going to give him the keys. It's unlikely, but it's possible in a perfect scenario. Otherwise he's probably going to end up as a "borderline All-Star" player, so still a very good player, but not a true (super)star.

You think D'Antoni or Jason Kidd wouldn't build their offenses around Doncic? Even the thought would make them drool.

[pacersGM]

That's why we all keep repeating that Doncic's role is going to be the key to his success.

Maybe he ends up on a team that's going to give him the keys. It's unlikely, but it's possible in a perfect scenario. Otherwise he's probably going to end up as a "borderline All-Star" player, so still a very good player, but not a true (super)star.

You think D'Antoni or Jason Kidd wouldn't build their offenses around Doncic? Even the thought would make them drool.

as long as he is scoring 10 ppg, no one is really drooling to be honest.

in an perfect world, where there is no crime, no hunger, and the sky is always blue it is possible for doncic to have the keys to an nba franchise and be mentioned in the same sentance as (james harden, lebron james, russell westbrook, chris paul). but then again, we have to be real also. but i do agree and i hope that doncic achieves borderline all star status in the nba, wich would be awesome for slovenia, to have 2 such players in league history.

for comparison. a 19yr old gallinari (19 is pretty close to 18 in my opinion) was scoring 15 ppg and 4 rpg in the euroleague for milano.
how did that translate into the nba? the same way through his prime - wich in my opinion is very good, a great nba career.

will doncic multiply his current stats in those 2 years hes still in europe? i personaly hope so, since that would make him an very good nba player. to be considered nba star-superstar potentionaly, i dontr know what he would have to do in those 2 years he is still in madrid. i dont know, maybe 19, 8, 8, would do it for me in 2019 in Madrid.

[SportsGuy8]

Wait a second. Rubio, yes, RUBIO, of all people, is averaging 10 ppg for his career in the NBA, and close to 12 per36. How can you even think there's a realistic chance Doncic's only going to average something around that, when even Rubio is able to do it? (provided he has a similar role on offense as Rubio, obviously)

Gallinari played on a much worse team, so he played a lot more minutes. That's why it's also important to look at per36 stats.

Now that Llull isn't going to be there, we're going to get a much clearer picture this season where Doncic currently stands. Last year his per36 stats were 14-8-7. It's not hard to believe his per36 stats should be at least 16-8-8 this year, quite unreal for Europe. I say 16 because while I expect him to be looking to score a lot more, defenses should also concentrate on him a lot more.

[pacersGM]

Wait a second. Rubio, yes, RUBIO, of all people, is averaging 10 ppg for his career in the NBA, and close to 12 per36. How can you even think there's a realistic chance Doncic's only going to average something around that, when even Rubio is able to do it? (provided he has a similar role on offense as Rubio, obviously)

Gallinari played on a much worse team, so he played a lot more minutes. That's why it's also important to look at per36 stats.

Now that Llull isn't going to be there, we're going to get a much clearer picture this season where Doncic currently stands. Last year his per36 stats were 14-8-7. It's not hard to believe his per36 stats should be at least 16-8-8 this year, quite unreal for Europe. I say 16 because while I expect him to be looking to score a lot more, defenses should also concentrate on him a lot more.

because rubio, like dragic was all along better suited for the nba. 6ft 3, 6-8,wingspan, pretty quicky at 18-20 (how that changes to average in 2-4 years doesnt it? rubios achilles heel is his shot or lack thereof, thats separating him from nba stardom in my opinion, and athletic ability IN MY OPINION will hinder doncic do do greater things in the nba.

i dont really get to much into stats / per / 36, i like to look and imagine a player and where his given tools can bring him. but looking stat wise, he would have to at least x3 his scoring to be relevant in the nba. just my 2 cents.

but only time will tell, thats why we will al just voice our opinion here, with nothing firm to grip on, but our instincts and considering circumstances

[SportsGuy8]

Doncic has lots of strength, though, don't forget that. His frame and strength is going to allow him do things he otherwise couldn't.

You say you don't get into stats too much, yet you keep throwing out numbers Doncic needs to achieve. Saying that he needs to score 3x as much is quite disingenuous because Euro games are both 8 minutes shorter and on good teams almost nobody plays anywhere close to 30 minutes. He scored at 14 per36 last year. He would need to improve his scoring "only" by a bit over 40% to get to 20ppg per36. Per36 is really important because that's the amount of minutes he's going to eventually play in the NBA if he ends up being at least a borderline All-Star.

If he ends up averaging 20-8-8 in the NBA (or even "just" like 18-8-8), everyone is going to consider him to be one of the best players in the NBA. He won't need to put up 24, 25 points with such a well-rounded game.

24-8-8 would be LeBron level.

[pacersGM]

Doncic has lots of strength, though, don't forget that. His frame and strength is going to allow him do things he otherwise couldn't.

You say you don't get into stats too much, yet you keep throwing out numbers Doncic needs to achieve. Saying that he needs to score 3x as much is quite disingenuous because Euro games are both 8 minutes shorter and on good teams almost nobody plays anywhere close to 30 minutes. He scored at 14 per36 last year. He would need to improve his scoring "only" by a bit over 40% to get to 20ppg per36. Per36 is really important because that's the amount of minutes he's going to eventually play in the NBA if he ends up being at least a borderline All-Star.

If he ends up averaging 20-8-8 in the NBA (or even "just" like 18-8-8), everyone is going to consider him to be one of the best players in the NBA. He won't need to put up 24, 25 points with such a well-rounded game.

24-8-8 would be LeBron level.

so you still believe he will be put in position (or lets say, that he has the tools to put himself into position ) to post 8 assist per game as a 6ft7, 6ft8 pg, after i mentioned who currently in the nba is able to do that? (westbrook, lebron, harden, cp3, john wall - all freaks by definition)?

do you realize that Giannis is currently averaging 8.8 reb, 5,4 assist, almost 23 ppg and is considered the future of the nba with his athletic ability, and bball iq, vision, and where a whole nba team is built around and for him? and you are saying that doncic can top that stats with 8 /8/ lets say 20 ppg? in your eyes doncic has the potential to do that, really?

ok then

[Bob8]

Interesting comparison between All-Rookie Saric and Doncic in Eurobasket. You can see that Doncic is better than Saric in almost everything, playing 5 minutes less. And Saric is pretty good rebounder in Nba.

http://www.fiba.basketball/eurobasket/2017/Luka-Doncic


http://www.fiba.basketball/eurobasket/2017/Dario-Saric

Doncic is 7th in rebounds category in Eurobasket. This would be great if he was a Pf/C, but he isn't. And he's only 18 years old. It's very likely he will be much better in 5 years time.

[SportsGuy8]

Doncic has lots of strength, though, don't forget that. His frame and strength is going to allow him do things he otherwise couldn't.

You say you don't get into stats too much, yet you keep throwing out numbers Doncic needs to achieve. Saying that he needs to score 3x as much is quite disingenuous because Euro games are both 8 minutes shorter and on good teams almost nobody plays anywhere close to 30 minutes. He scored at 14 per36 last year. He would need to improve his scoring "only" by a bit over 40% to get to 20ppg per36. Per36 is really important because that's the amount of minutes he's going to eventually play in the NBA if he ends up being at least a borderline All-Star.

If he ends up averaging 20-8-8 in the NBA (or even "just" like 18-8-8), everyone is going to consider him to be one of the best players in the NBA. He won't need to put up 24, 25 points with such a well-rounded game.

24-8-8 would be LeBron level.

so you still believe he will be put in position (or lets say, that he has the tools to put himself into position ) to post 8 assist per game as a 6ft7, 6ft8 pg, after i mentioned who currently in the nba is able to do that? (westbrook, lebron, harden, cp3, john wall - all freaks by definition)?

do you realize that Giannis is currently averaging 8.8 reb, 5,4 assist, almost 23 ppg and is considered the future of the nba with his athletic ability, and bball iq, vision, and where a whole nba team is built around and for him? and you are saying that doncic can top that stats with 8 /8/ lets say 20 ppg? in your eyes doncic has the potential to do that, really?

ok then

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reading_comprehension

1. I made it clear SEVERAL TIMES that that's only possible to happen if the offense is going to be ran through him.

2. I also made it clear SEVERAL TIMES that this is sadly unlikely to happen. I'm talking about his ceiling, best-case-scenario.

3. I also pointed out that it could happen if he ends up on a team with a coach like D'Antoni or Kidd. But such coaches are rare. It could change, though, if the whole league goes in that direction ... That's a chance for Doncic.

Giannis, for example, has nowhere the vision Doncic has. He also doesn't have his rebounding instincts, he simply does it with his freakish athleticism. There were multiple players in the past that showed us how far great rebounding instincts can take you, even if your athleticism is lacking. Also, rebounding has been proven many times to be basically the most translatable stat from Europe to the NBA. There's a HUGE sample on that.

I think that Wall, CP3, Westbrook and Harden all averaged above 10.5 apg per36 during last season. It might not look like, but that's substantially above 8. As for LeBron, his role is different.

Doncic might struggle to get 8 rebounds, though, but for another reason. NBA players care too much about their stats (also because stats are overrated in general in the NBA, so they get much better contracts by averaging 10 rebounds compared to 9, for example), so his big man teammates might not like boxing out that much, instead wanting to grab the boards themselves.

[SportsGuy8]

Interesting comparison between All-Rookie Saric and Doncic in Eurobasket. You can see that Doncic is better than Saric in almost everything, playing 5 minutes less. And Saric is pretty good rebounder in Nba.

http://www.fiba.basketball/eurobasket/2017/Luka-Doncic


http://www.fiba.basketball/eurobasket/2017/Dario-Saric

Doncic is 7th in rebounds category in Eurobasket. This would be great if he was a Pf/C, but he isn't. And he's only 18 years old.

Saric is another player that's probably more suited for the NBA. A player putting up his numbers in the NBA, he should dominate playing on a team like Croatia that lacked any real depth, but he didn't even look as good as in his rookie NBA year ... Small sample, though, obviously.

As for rebounds. Slowly, but surely, the world is going to start appreciating and realizing just how great of a rebounder Doncic is ... His instincts combined with his strength make up for what he lacks in not having elite athleticism and size.

[pacersGM]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reading_comprehension

1. I made it clear SEVERAL TIMES that that's only possible to happen if the offense is going to be ran through him.

2. I also made it clear SEVERAL TIMES that this is sadly unlikely to happen. I'm talking about his ceiling, best-case-scenario.

3. I also pointed out that it could happen if he ends up on a team with a coach like D'Antoni or Kidd. But such coaches are rare. It could change, though, if the whole league goes in that direction ... That's a chance for Doncic.

Giannis, for example, has nowhere the vision Doncic has. He also doesn't have his rebounding instincts, he simply does it with his freakish athleticism. There were multiple players in the past that showed us how far great rebounding instincts can take you, even if your athleticism is lacking. Also, rebounding has been proven many times to be basically the most translatable stat from Europe to the NBA. There's a HUGE sample on that.

I think that Wall, CP3, Westbrook and Harden all averaged above 10.5 apg per36 during last season. It might not look like, but that's substantially above 8. As for LeBron, his role is different.

Doncic might struggle to get 8 rebounds, though, but for another reason. NBA players care too much about their stats (also because stats are overrated in general in the NBA, so they get much better contracts by averaging 10 rebounds compared to 9, for example), so his big man teammates might not like boxing out that much, instead wanting to grab the boards themselves.

those 36 per stats is just another thing to fog this topic up. are cp3, lebron, wall, averaging 10.5 assist per game? no, they didnt.

do i think doncic can get almost as much rebounds as the 7 feet tall, fast as a pointguard, freak antetokoumpo? (be it giannis gets them with the special feel as doncic or without that special feel )?, i dont think so, sorry. just my personal opinion
and one more thing, giannis as great feel for the game, vision. just ask your favourite coach jason kidd, or read a few interviews of him, and how he sees giannis run the team.

[Bob8]

Interesting comparison between All-Rookie Saric and Doncic in Eurobasket. You can see that Doncic is better than Saric in almost everything, playing 5 minutes less. And Saric is pretty good rebounder in Nba.

http://www.fiba.basketball/eurobasket/2017/Luka-Doncic


http://www.fiba.basketball/eurobasket/2017/Dario-Saric

Doncic is 7th in rebounds category in Eurobasket. This would be great if he was a Pf/C, but he isn't. And he's only 18 years old.

Saric is another player that's probably more suited for the NBA. A player putting up his numbers in the NBA, he should dominate playing on a team like Croatia that lacked any real depth, but he didn't even look as good as in his rookie NBA year ... Small sample, though, obviously.

As for rebounds. Slowly, but surely, the world is going to start appreciating and realizing just how great of a rebounder Doncic is ... His instincts combined with his strength make up for what he lacks in not having elite athleticism and size.

And don't forget the best thing about his rebounds, he always try to run after. And this looks to me even better for Nba than Fiba.

[Gam]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reading_comprehension

1. I made it clear SEVERAL TIMES that that's only possible to happen if the offense is going to be ran through him.

2. I also made it clear SEVERAL TIMES that this is sadly unlikely to happen. I'm talking about his ceiling, best-case-scenario.

3. I also pointed out that it could happen if he ends up on a team with a coach like D'Antoni or Kidd. But such coaches are rare. It could change, though, if the whole league goes in that direction ... That's a chance for Doncic.

Giannis, for example, has nowhere the vision Doncic has. He also doesn't have his rebounding instincts, he simply does it with his freakish athleticism. There were multiple players in the past that showed us how far great rebounding instincts can take you, even if your athleticism is lacking. Also, rebounding has been proven many times to be basically the most translatable stat from Europe to the NBA. There's a HUGE sample on that.

I think that Wall, CP3, Westbrook and Harden all averaged above 10.5 apg per36 during last season. It might not look like, but that's substantially above 8. As for LeBron, his role is different.

Doncic might struggle to get 8 rebounds, though, but for another reason. NBA players care too much about their stats (also because stats are overrated in general in the NBA, so they get much better contracts by averaging 10 rebounds compared to 9, for example), so his big man teammates might not like boxing out that much, instead wanting to grab the boards themselves.

those 36 per stats is just another thing to fog this topic up. are cp3, lebron, wall, averaging 10.5 assist per game? no, they didnt.

do i think doncic can get almost as much rebounds as the 7 feet tall, fast as a pointguard, freak antetokoumpo? (be it giannis gets them with the special feel as doncic or without that special feel )?, i dont think so, sorry. just my personal opinion
and one more thing, giannis as great feel for the game, vision. just ask your favourite coach jason kidd, or read a few interviews of him, and how he sees giannis run the team.

Giannis has good vision (incredible vision for his size), but Doncic has elite vision for any size IMO. And also SportsGuy8 is mostly right about Giannis relying on his athletic superiority to grab most of his rebounds, but he could definitely grab 10+ a game if he was really trying to 'stat pad' like most of the guys grabbing that many boards are.

Eventually, I think that Giannis and Doncic and Giannis will have comparable Rebound and Assist numbers (Doncic with a couple more assists, Giannis with slightly a few more rebounds), but Giannis will always be a better scorer and much much better defender, while Doncic will be a much better shooter and run an offense slightly better.

[Bob8]

When we make prediction what Doncic will be capable to do in 5 years and how impossible some things are, just try to look back how possible was this things for other players.
Giannis was playing in second tier Greek league when he was 18. I'm sure everyone would have laughed, if someone predicted how good will he be in 5 years. Now we're comparing Doncic to the best Nba players and saying how is impossible for him to score 20+ ppg in his prime. Of course it is, if he will remain the same player he's at this moment. But he won't. He can improve in every area of his game. In NT he showed he can scored much more than in Real, he even started to take some middle range jumpers and almost all 3 pointers he creates for himself and are more or less Nba range. I remembered him 2-3 years back, his shot was really not that good. Now I don't see any reason why he can't be elite shooter.
1 year ago I would say it's impossible he could have this stats, http://www.fiba.basketball/eurobasket/2017/Luka-Doncic in Eurobasket. But it wasn't.
When you're saying something is impossible, just remember how old he's.

[The-Power]

When you're saying something is impossible, just remember how old he's.

But remember he can't jump that high or just blow by his defender one on one. I mean, what's the point in even trying to develop any further?!?

[ATLTimekeeper]

His rebounding (specifically defensive) in this tournament has convinced me he'll be a multi-year all-star. That's just a trait of someone who reads the game as a faster clip then the competition and has the mindset to assert himself at all times. If he's 18-8-5, he's an all-star pretty much every year. Anything higher on the assists and he's Magic Johnson.

[Bob8]

When you're saying something is impossible, just remember how old he's.

But remember he can't jump that high or just blow by his defender one on one. I mean, what's the point in even trying to develop any further?!?

No reason. Like Curry, Harden and similar had no reason to develop.

Btw. Great Porzings has 5.8 rbd/game vs. 7.5 from Doncic.

[Mirotic12]

Doncic is actually the most consistent player on the Slovenia team. You know you can expect about 15 points, 7 rebs, 5 assists in 30 min on this team. If he had the keys, his averages would be even higher as the usage rate would go up significantly.

I think he is playing with more confidence than the first 2 games, he is getting better with each game and it will be interesting to see what he does against Latvia (most likely) in the next round when the pressure is on.

Doncic is way better than Dragic is. It's just die hard hardcore NBA only fans that can't admit that. Dragic's whole game is running fast then trying to draw a foul or throwing up a mid range jumper.

He's miles away from the skill level and talent Doncic has already at 18.

Dragic put up 20pts 5.8asts 1.2stls in 73games last year on 47.5/40.5/79.0 shooting splits. Please don't try to say Doncic is already better than him when he hasn't even played a single minute at the highest level of basketball.

See, another argument using European bias.

Dragic's whole game is running fast then trying to draw a foul or throwing up a mid range jumper.

What's wrong with how he plays? Absolutely nothing. Just because you personally don't like the NBA doesn't mean Dragic is worse than Doncic. This is the most ridiculous argument I've ever heard on here.. this is why it's hard to discuss Doncic sometimes. Some fans continue to judge him through the eyes of Euroleague standards. Fans need to scout him by NBA standards. We're talking about him as a future NBA prospect, not a future Euroleague MVP.

Doncic is a way better player, right now, than Dragic is. I don't hate the NBA either. I'm also definitely not judging him "through the eyes of EuroLeague standards" (I don't even know what that even means actually). I am simply stating what is true - Doncic is just a better player.

so you still believe he will be put in position (or lets say, that he has the tools to put himself into position ) to post 8 assist per game as a 6ft7, 6ft8 pg, after i mentioned who currently in the nba is able to do that? (westbrook, lebron, harden, cp3, john wall - all freaks by definition)?

do you realize that Giannis is currently averaging 8.8 reb, 5,4 assist, almost 23 ppg and is considered the future of the nba with his athletic ability, and bball iq, vision, and where a whole nba team is built around and for him? and you are saying that doncic can top that stats with 8 /8/ lets say 20 ppg? in your eyes doncic has the potential to do that, really?

ok then

Giannis' passing, court vision, and play making ability is below average for EuroLeague guard level. His ball handling is way below average of a typical EuroLeague guard.

Not a good example to use him for any comparison. Doncic's ball handling, passing, play making, court vision are definitely better than Giannis'.

Giannis is only good at those things from the NBA rules and comparing him to other guys his size. Put him in FIBA play, then make him be a guard....and he is below average in those areas under those circumstances. They are two entirely 180 degree opposite kinds of players, so there is really no reason to even be making comparisons between them.

[reanimator]

Interesting comparison between All-Rookie Saric and Doncic in Eurobasket. You can see that Doncic is better than Saric in almost everything, playing 5 minutes less. And Saric is pretty good rebounder in Nba.
.

Being better than Dario Saric isn't exactly useful for a guy you all keep tossing out names like Magic, Curry, Lebron and Harden to compare.