Luka Doncic will be the best rookie since Lebron.

OkcSinceSGA · Post #1 » by **OkcSinceSGA** » Thu May 24, 2018 4:24 am

Better than Simmons, better than Towns, better than Blake Griffin in terms of a rookie season. According to Kevin Pelton's WARP he is actually is being projected to be the most dominant rookie in the last 12 years at least (tracked since 06). Just put up 21, 7.5, 7, 1.5 steals PER 36 on elite efficiency, just turned 19 years old, led his team to the Euroleague title.

I really really hope he doesnt stay in Europe this year. We will all be robbed of an amazing talent. His game and size is ideal for the NBA right now to have a bit of a perfect storm scenario that Dirk had mid career where the league became a pace+space/PnR league.

In the NBA he should be an even better fit. If the Suns don't draft him at #1 they are making a huge mistake. This thread will be revisited in the season I'm sure.

Zeitgeister · Post #2 » by **Zeitgeister** » Thu May 24, 2018 4:28 am

I would take a stat projection with a massive grain of salt going from Europe to the NBA. Doncic has a chance to be exceedingly good, he's certainly skilled enough but there are some concerns about how well he'll stack up athletically.

Eric Millegan · Post #3 » by **Eric Millegan** » Thu May 24, 2018 4:30 am

I agree with all of this.

King Ken · Post #4 » by **King Ken** » Thu May 24, 2018 4:31 am

I personally think its Bagley but if any team plays Doncic at PG which is what he is in the NBA, who knows? I have him having a tough transition but if plays PG, he could be very good and very soon. Euro PGs who have PG skills and high BBIQ have translated well into the NBA regardless of their athletic abilities.

3toheadmelo · Post #5 » by **3toheadmelo** » Thu May 24, 2018 4:32 am

OkcSinceSGA · Post #6 » by **OkcSinceSGA** » Thu May 24, 2018 4:34 am

King Ken wrote:I personally think its Bagley but if any team plays Doncic at PG which is what he is in the NBA, who knows? I have him having a tough transition but if plays PG, he could be very good and very soon. Euro PGs who have PG skills and high BBIQ have translated well into the NBA regardless of their athletic abilities.

I'd run him at SG personally. He will have trouble possibly not fouling so much at the NBA level guarding PG's and he has plenty of size/athleticism to play SG.

OkcSinceSGA · Post #7 » by **OkcSinceSGA** » Thu May 24, 2018 4:35 am

Zeitgeister wrote:I would take a stat projection with a massive grain of salt going from Europe to the NBA. Doncic has a chance to be exceedingly good, he's certainly skilled enough but there are some concerns about how well he'll stack up athletically.

Which is weird IMO. I see him as quite athletic TBH. He's no Vince Carter athletically, but far slower, less explosive Euro players have done very well in recent years.

Ben-N1ce · Post #8 » by **Ben-N1ce** » Thu May 24, 2018 4:36 am

He's going to get obliterated defensively.

Ryoga Hibiki · Post #9 » by **Ryoga Hibiki** » Thu May 24, 2018 4:38 am

LeBron was not that good of a rookie, arguably the third best of his team, definitely worse than Simmons.

Edit: of his class

OkcSinceSGA · Post #10 » by **OkcSinceSGA** » Thu May 24, 2018 4:39 am

Ben-N1ce wrote:He's going to get obliterated defensively.

I don't think he will. He will likely be a slightly below average to average defender over his career. Similar to a Curry or Dirk in the sense that his offense will be so dominant, his defensive shortcomings won't be a huge factor in his impact.

OkcSinceSGA · Post #11 » by **OkcSinceSGA** » Thu May 24, 2018 4:39 am

Ryoga Hibiki wrote:LeBron was not that good of a rookie, arguably the third best of his team, definitely worse than Simmons.

So best since Jordan? Whichever arbitrary player, he will be the best in well over a decade.

King Ken · Post #12 » by **King Ken** » Thu May 24, 2018 4:41 am

ClipsFanSince98 wrote:
King Ken wrote:I personally think its Bagley but if any team plays Doncic at PG which is what he is in the NBA, who knows? I have him having a tough transition but if plays PG, he could be very good and very soon. Euro PGs who have PG skills and high BBIQ have translated well into the NBA regardless of their athletic abilities.

I'd run him at SG personally. He will have trouble possibly not fouling so much at the NBA level guarding PG's and he has plenty of size/athleticism to play SG.

That's a very difficult position for him. The athleticism+size is much better at SG and taking him off the ball lowers his ceiling for me. Philly figured it out best . Use PGs to be PGs

King Ken · Post #13 » by **King Ken** » Thu May 24, 2018 4:42 am

ClipsFanSince98 wrote:
Ryoga Hibiki wrote:LeBron was not that good of a rookie, arguably the third best of his team, definitely worse than Simmons.

So best since Jordan? Whichever arbitrary player, he will be the best in well over a decade.

A number of rookies were great in the 90s like Tim Duncan, Shaq, Grant Hill, Kidd, Glenn Robinson, and Iverson

dlts20 · Post #14 » by **dlts20** » Thu May 24, 2018 4:42 am

Ryoga Hibiki wrote:LeBron was not that good of a rookie, arguably the third best of his team, definitely worse than Simmons.

What

Ryoga Hibiki · Post #15 » by **Ryoga Hibiki** » Thu May 24, 2018 4:45 am

dlts20 wrote:
Ryoga Hibiki wrote:LeBron was not that good of a rookie, arguably the third best of his team, definitely worse than Simmons.

What

sorry, I meant of his class, just sleepy... lol...

OkcSinceSGA · Post #16 » by **OkcSinceSGA** » Thu May 24, 2018 4:46 am

King Ken wrote:
ClipsFanSince98 wrote:
King Ken wrote:I personally think its Bagley but if any team plays Doncic at PG which is what he is in the NBA, who knows? I have him having a tough transition but if plays PG, he could be very good and very soon. Euro PGs who have PG skills and high BBIQ have translated well into the NBA regardless of their athletic abilities.

I'd run him at SG personally. He will have trouble possibly not fouling so much at the NBA level guarding PG's and he has plenty of size/athleticism to play SG.

That's a very difficult position for him. The athleticism+size is much better at SG and taking him off the ball lowers his ceiling for me. Philly figured it out best . Use PGs to be PGs

He will play PG offensively and it's arbitrary in a way. Lebron and Simmons are SF in their lineups and run PG. Defensively he will be a SG.

DarthTeufel · Post #17 » by **DarthTeufel** » Thu May 24, 2018 4:46 am

it sounds funny now, but Carmelo was actually better than LeBron strictly as rookies.

Blake Griffin actually has a solid case as being the best rookie since Duncan. of course he also pretty much maxed out as a player at that point as well.

But to the point. I am a big Doncic fan and honestly wouldn't be surprised if we see Ben Simmons, but with a shot. I'm hoping he ends up in the Eastern Conference but if he stays in the draft I don't see him dropping past the top two.

Priest24 · Post #18 » by **Priest24** » Thu May 24, 2018 4:50 am

said no one ever

richboy · Post #19 » by **richboy** » Thu May 24, 2018 4:51 am

If I'm Doncic I'm going to Phoenix or I'm forcing my way to another team. I'm sorry Sacramento. I'm sorry Atlanta. If I'm Doncic I'm flat saying I'm staying in Europe for 2 or 3 years if they draft me. I would not put my career in the hands of those organizations. Dallas trade up and get me. Clippers trade up and get me. Phili trade up and get me. Really Phili should be aggressive and trade up and get Doncic. He is in essence what they hope Fultz can become now. Him and Ben would be just awesome together.

Now I'm pretty accurate with my projections. I said last year I thought Ben Simmons would averaged 17 7 and 7. That he would average a triple double at some point in his career.

With Doncic I think 21 7 and 7 is a huge projection. I'm not ready to go to that level. I'm more on the 17 7 7 with Doncic as well. He has to be on a pretty bad team to get to 21 PPG first year.

Just to note there really not many players in league history that are 17 7 7 guys for there career. I think we will have a lot of Ben Simmons vs Doncic debates in the next 10 years. I grade Ben just a little better than Doncic because he has a little more size and athleticism. It wouldn't shock me if Doncic is better because right now he is as good if not a little better and is younger. If Ben gets a jump shot not sure it would be close.

KHRICH · Post #20 » by **KHRICH** » Thu May 24, 2018 4:54 am

DarthTeufel wrote:it sounds funny now, but Carmelo was actually better than LeBron strictly as rookies.

Blake Griffin actually has a solid case as being the best rookie since Duncan. of course he also pretty much maxed out as a player at that point as well.

But to the point. I am a big Doncic fan and honestly wouldn't be surprised if we see Ben Simmons, but with a shot. I'm hoping he ends up in the Eastern Conference but if he stays in the draft I don't see him dropping past the top two.

100 percent agree Carmelo was a pretty damn polished rookie.