All Things Luka Doncic

[Nikson]

Looks like he is already outgrowing Euroleague level of competition. How often players from Euroleague title contenders reach 40 PIR, very rarely, I am not even talking about the fact he is 18. Ridiculous.

Really improved his foul drawing rate, which is very demanding skill if you want to be a star, and I am not sure if these guys are just cant box out, or is he just that good at getting in position for offensive rebounds.

His rebounding was alwys great, even when he was 13 and playing with older boys. Back then he was weak, slow and smaller than everyone else (other guys were 2-3 years older), but he still put up 10+ rebounds per game consistently.


He has the anticipation and timing you can not teach. Its just one of those things. If you watch him closely, he follows the ball trajectory and slides into position for a rebound before everyone else. Thats why he is always in the mix for a rebound on defense and most of the time when he goes for offensive rebound he is at least in vicinity of the ball.

I dont really know other guys in this draft but I will be watching the NCAA this year more closely. They must be really something if they are even considered to be picked before Doncic. I have seen some clips of them but those were non competitive games against highschool competition. I want to see how they do against real competition altough still not even close to Euroleague.

I will watch closely NCAA this season too. But only on replay, not direct stream in real time.

So I could replay at 1.33x speed.

[lambchop]

I always hear bout these legends like Dragon b3nder and Mario and all these guys and there garbage

Bender was a rotation player for Maccabi and Hezonja was a rotation player for Barcelona. Neither of them played roles in their national team. Doncic is a key player for Real Madrid and was the 2nd best player on the Eurobasket winning Slovenia. What an utter joke of a post.

hm not really. He had a bunch of games where he played less than 5 minutes or didnt attempt a single shot or get a rebound. His most efficient game was when he had 3 points, 5 rebounds and 2 TOs. That to me isnt a rotation player. That's just someone who's part of the roster, who practices with the pros.
The spurs also draft these kind of players, but they leave them in europe for 3 to 10 years and then sign them when they're ready to play.

[Wagonband]

People keep throwing the argumant: "well if he is that good, he has to be the best euro prospect ever". And that's kinda the point. He is. What he is doing is unprecedentet in european baskeball history. By far. Rubio avaraged 10/3/3 as a 21yo with a PIR of 10! Doncic is avaraging 22/6/4 currently in eurolague at 18. He is avaragin overall 15/6/5 in 25 minutes of play on a team as deep as Real Madrid, and he plays a lot of time off ball (comapred to rubio who held it every possession), and yet is superior in every single way.

So yeah clearly goat euro prospect, clearly deserves the hype. And stop comparing someone being the main player on a top 4 team in Europe to scrubs that were drafted because of their "potential", not their game.

There is simply no way to predict how good Doncic will be in the NBA though, since it's an unprecedented case. But i do believe his floor is extremly high. There's like 0% chance he will not be a borderline all-star baring no injuries

[ReginaldDwight]

Im not sure if he's the best prospect, but I'm a believer. I keep hoping NBA GM's screw this up because I don't think my Pacers will be bad enough to be in the top 5, but maybe 6-10 range. I keep hoping we are there, and he falls there.

It would be the most excited I've been since the Paul George pick. Which local radio hosts saw my Facebook post about the PG13 pick and roasted me. Then 3 years later I heard him on his radio show say he only gives 1 guy credit in all of Indiana for calling that and thinks everyone else is making it up that they wanted Paul George. Let's do that again with Luka.

I would like to see Doncic on the Pacers, Turner and Doncic would be a nice duo to build on.

[antonac]

I completely agree with people noting that the standard of competition Doncic plays with is light years beyond what any of the college picks have or will play against. Porter and Bagely have only really played high school basketball, can anyone imagine just by how much team like real madrid would rout an american high school team by? 60-70 points wouldn't be an exaggeration.

BUT, even though Doncic is playing way tougher opposition, and should definitely come into the league far more ready you can't discount the fact that the high school and college scene has still given us players like Durant, Curry, Davis, Lebron, Westbrook, Harden... i.e. the best players in the league.

I think Doncic could be a great player, maybe even MVP level in the right situation and he should certainly be the most NBA ready. but unless he's the best rookie ever by a clear distance then why overplay his track to the NBA? it's certainly interesting but in all honesty there is still no way to tell whether he or bagely will end up being the best in the draft class.

[KP6]

He can be super special and will be the 1st pick of the NBA... If that team is smart? (He by far the best young player on the planet)

[Lauri_Legend]

False.

Would've been easier if we saw him in college. We've seen many Euros come and go without having a successful NBA career. Not saying he's bad, but I still don't think we got a fair sample size of who he really is.

[BernteB]

False.

Would've been easier if we saw him in college. We've seen many Euros come and go without having a successful NBA career. Not saying he's bad, but I still don't think we got a fair sample size of who he really is.

what? he's right now playing against a competition that is 3 levels above college ball. and he is dominating that competition at the age of 18.

good gawd, 'murica!

[Lauri_Legend]

False.

Would've been easier if we saw him in college. We've seen many Euros come and go without having a successful NBA career. Not saying he's bad, but I still don't think we got a fair sample size of who he really is.

what? he's right now playing against a competition that is 3 levels above college ball. and he is dominating that competition at the age of 18.

good gawd, 'murica!

IQ wise, sure. He's playing against better competition. I don't think anyone is doubting the kids IQ. I think athleticism wise, Euro basketball is a major step down from NCAA. That's where he has the biggest question mark. Can he produce at a high level when he's not as athletic or strong as these other players in the NBA? That's usually the reason why Euro players fail in the NBA with the exception of a few.

[BernteB]

False.

Would've been easier if we saw him in college. We've seen many Euros come and go without having a successful NBA career. Not saying he's bad, but I still don't think we got a fair sample size of who he really is.

what? he's right now playing against a competition that is 3 levels above college ball. and he is dominating that competition at the age of 18.

good gawd, 'murica!

IQ wise, sure. He's playing against better competition. I don't think anyone is doubting the kids IQ. I think athleticism wise, Euro basketball is a major step down from NCAA. That's where he has the biggest question mark. Can he produce at a high level when he's not as athletic or strong as these other players in the NBA? That's usually the reason why Euro players fail in the NBA with the exception of a few.

what makes you think that the second best league in the world athletically is worse than the ncaa? you should get away from the idea that a handfull of top prospects define the ncaa standard. i can assure you that 99% of ncaa players would not make the cut in a euroleague team.

[walk with me]

I think it would help those who think he is the best prospect in the world to explain what his roof is.

Saying he’s the best prospect in the world but then comparing him to Ricky Rubio and Goran Dragić doesn’t really help your case.


I’m kind of curious myself where some of you think he could be in peak form. I outlined what I think results in all star dudes out of Europe and he doesn’t really check any of my boxes, doesn’t mean he can’t achieve that level. I just don’t see it happening for him.

[Lauri_Legend]

what? he's right now playing against a competition that is 3 levels above college ball. and he is dominating that competition at the age of 18.

good gawd, 'murica!

IQ wise, sure. He's playing against better competition. I don't think anyone is doubting the kids IQ. I think athleticism wise, Euro basketball is a major step down from NCAA. That's where he has the biggest question mark. Can he produce at a high level when he's not as athletic or strong as these other players in the NBA? That's usually the reason why Euro players fail in the NBA with the exception of a few.

what makes you think that the second best league in the world athletically is worse than the ncaa? you should get away from the idea that a handfull of top prospects define the ncaa standard. i can assure you that 99% of ncaa players would not make the cut in a euroleague team.

Because of their lack of talent, not because of of their athleticism. Lol.

[BernteB]

I think it would help those who think he is the best prospect in the world to explain what his roof is.

Saying he’s the best prospect in the world but then comparing him to Ricky Rubio and Goran Dragić doesn’t really help your case.


I’m kind of curious myself where some of you think he could be in peak form. I outlined what I think results in all star dudes out of Europe and he doesn’t really check any of my boxes, doesn’t mean he can’t achieve that level. I just don’t see it happening for him.

the dragic and rubio comparison is not fitting whatsoever. when these guys were still playing youth tournaments, doncic contributed as a key player in european top tournaments. doncic is way better than both of them. way, way better!

[PhilBlackson]

I'm really not sure tbh, I think both Porter Jr and Bagley have a chance to be better but that doesn't mean Doncic can't be a superstar himself or that he won't end up being the best player. Porter Jr and more so Bagley just have elite physical tools that could potentially give them the edge long term. But Doncic's feel for the game/bball IQ seems like it's off the charts where in a league that doesn't allow a hand check is a priceless commodity.

All that said I have my own bias and think Kostas Antentokounmpo might be the one, although he may be the most underrated prospect I can remember...well aside from his big bro lol who they claim Kostas is bigger, longer, more athletic and coordinated at the same age but whatever, best kept secret although I'm sure that won't last too long. I'm starting the bandwagon, remember that RealGM lol, there's plenty of room for others...

[BernteB]

IQ wise, sure. He's playing against better competition. I don't think anyone is doubting the kids IQ. I think athleticism wise, Euro basketball is a major step down from NCAA. That's where he has the biggest question mark. Can he produce at a high level when he's not as athletic or strong as these other players in the NBA? That's usually the reason why Euro players fail in the NBA with the exception of a few.

what makes you think that the second best league in the world athletically is worse than the ncaa? you should get away from the idea that a handfull of top prospects define the ncaa standard. i can assure you that 99% of ncaa players would not make the cut in a euroleague team.

Because of their lack of talent, not because of of their athleticism. Lol.

it's not 1980 anymore. you guys have no bloody clue about basketball outside the u.s. of a, do you?

[Lauri_Legend]

what makes you think that the second best league in the world athletically is worse than the ncaa? you should get away from the idea that a handfull of top prospects define the ncaa standard. i can assure you that 99% of ncaa players would not make the cut in a euroleague team.

Because of their lack of talent, not because of of their athleticism. Lol.

it's not 1980 anymore. you guys have no bloody clue about basketball outside the u.s. of a, do you?

Outside of Kristap, name me a Euro in the NBA whose athleticism is above average in the NBA...

[BernteB]

Because of their lack of talent, not because of of their athleticism. Lol.

it's not 1980 anymore. you guys have no bloody clue about basketball outside the u.s. of a, do you?

Outside of Kristap, name me a Euro in the NBA whose athleticism is above average in the NBA...

schröder? antetokounmpo? oh, wait, they aren't pale. they are not REAL euros.

remember rudy fernandez? he was good enough to participate in the dunk contest.

daniel theis is pretty athletic.

it's really not that hard.

[walk with me]

I think it would help those who think he is the best prospect in the world to explain what his roof is.

Saying he’s the best prospect in the world but then comparing him to Ricky Rubio and Goran Dragić doesn’t really help your case.


I’m kind of curious myself where some of you think he could be in peak form. I outlined what I think results in all star dudes out of Europe and he doesn’t really check any of my boxes, doesn’t mean he can’t achieve that level. I just don’t see it happening for him.

the dragic and rubio comparison is not fitting whatsoever. when these guys were still playing youth tournaments, doncic contributed as a key player in european top tournaments. doncic is way better than both of them. way, way better!

I agree based on what I can see from the footage but I was just repeating that based on a few prior posts.

What do you think his roof is playing style wise?

[young11a]

I always hear bout these legends like Dragon b3nder and Mario and all these guys and there garbage

Please find any quote saying that Bender and Hezonja were "legends". You are a liar and as such, you are worthless in this discussion.

Doncic is probably the best euro prospect of at least the past 10 years. Bender and Hezonja were never seen as such.

Does it mean that Doncic is going to pan out? No. But I'm sure you don't think that all tall American players will fail because some became bust. Am I right? So why are you being so lazy when it comes to Euros?

Settle down spaz

[PhilBlackson]

Im not sure if he's the best prospect, but I'm a believer. I keep hoping NBA GM's screw this up because I don't think my Pacers will be bad enough to be in the top 5, but maybe 6-10 range. I keep hoping we are there, and he falls there.

It would be the most excited I've been since the Paul George pick. Which local radio hosts saw my Facebook post about the PG13 pick and roasted me. Then 3 years later I heard him on his radio show say he only gives 1 guy credit in all of Indiana for calling that and thinks everyone else is making it up that they wanted Paul George. Let's do that again with Luka.

Yeah I don't mean to be a party pooper but I really, really don't see IND being a bottom 5 team. Not trying to be a jerk but your franchise (like mine) never really commits to a true tank. Unfortunately I think you guys are FAR more likely looking at or at least hoping to have a chance at Knox but imo much more likely looking at players like Sexton and Duval, simply because I think you'll hover around 7-12.

CHI, ATL, SAC, PHX are pretty much guaranteed to be worse which I'm almost certainly means Porter Jr, Doncic, Bagley and Ayton will be gone. I also think you'll be better than NYK and BKN/CLE (Knox) which of course puts you 7+ at best. It's really up in the air imo between your team, ORL, DET, LAL and DAL for the next 5 spots and I really don't see you guys being the worst of that bunch personally.