Luka Doncic

[Jestor]

http://dallassportsfanatic.com/luka-don ... ign=buffer

Combination shameless self plug/hyping a guy for a future CSL class. Manu, I'd loved to have gotten your take on him, but didn't think of it until too late.

[hardenwithnod]

Dude has size, IQ, ridiculous vision, and a beautiful stroke. Now he needs to learn to play under control, and make better reads on the pick, and rolls. If he can slow down, and learn to read, and react better, then this dude is a matchup nightmare on offense. Defensively he will be solid, just need to learn to play smart team defense, and use his size to challenge shooters.

[Jestor]

I think he'll be a solid ball thief, but I don't see him ever being more than a league average defender outside of steals because of his athleticism limitations

[hardenwithnod]

I think he'll be a solid ball thief, but I don't see him ever being more than a league average defender outside of steals because of his athleticism limitations

True, he's definitely not that athletic.

[Rizzo]

He looks like he's got all the offensive skills you could ask for but I wonder if his lack of elite athleticism will allow him to score at the rim in the NBA.

[Myles]

Yeah, he reminds me a lot of D'Angelo Russell actually when Russell was at Ohio State... he looked great there as a scorer and playmaker, but his lack of athleticism prevented him from having the type of gravity offensively that would allow him to be a difference maker.

[Chilikonkarne]

This kid is incredible - not taking him #1 next draft would be a mistake.
He is playing pro since he is 15 and not for some 2nd division team but for freaking Real (easily top 3 team in Europe)

[Marcos_Beck]

This kid is incredible - not taking him #1 next draft would be a mistake.
He is playing pro since he is 15 and not for some 2nd division team but for freaking Real (easily top 3 team in Europe)

Never seen him play but Michael Porter Jr. looks amazing as well...

[8time]

Yeah, he reminds me a lot of D'Angelo Russell actually when Russell was at Ohio State... he looked great there as a scorer and playmaker, but his lack of athleticism prevented him from having the type of gravity offensively that would allow him to be a difference maker.

Speaking of Russell, makes me sad he didn't have a serious mentality because if he did he would still be a Laker. Has high IQ, great talent, but disrespectful and has motivation issues.

[hardenwithnod]

This kid is incredible - not taking him #1 next draft would be a mistake.
He is playing pro since he is 15 and not for some 2nd division team but for freaking Real (easily top 3 team in Europe)

Never seen him play but Michael Porter Jr. looks amazing as well...

I know it's just Drew League, but Porter was wrecking college stars, and NBA pros out there this summer lol.

[Rizzo]

And now Porter's brother just reclassified and will be joining him at Missouri this season. Mizzou is going to be a one-year wonder in basketball this year then will be back to trash after they all leave.

[hardenwithnod]

And now Porter's brother just reclassified and will be joining him at Missouri this season. Mizzou is going to be a one-year wonder in basketball this year then will be back to trash after they all leave.

MY A&M squad is loaded this year, but then again I don't think Coach Kennedy is a good in game coach, so we shall see what happens in the SEC this year.

[mgtr81]

http://dallassportsfanatic.com/luka-don ... ign=buffer

Combination shameless self plug/hyping a guy for a future CSL class. Manu, I'd loved to have gotten your take on him, but didn't think of it until too late.

I think he is better fit for European basketball, to be honest. He has a lot of talent, but not sure the NBA is the right place for that kind of player. This last season his team (Real Madrid) lost the national league Finals against Valencia when they were the heavy favorites. It was obviously not his fault being such a young player, but others before him at very young age had taken their teams on their shoulders to win titles here (Pau Gasol did the season before leaving to the NBA, for example).

I'm basically saying this because of he "greatest European prospect" tag. I don't think so. He is very talented and will be a very good basketball player. As far as fundamentals go, he is likely better than any NCAA prospect. But I don't think he is the best prospect ever from Europe. A few that come to mind that I'd rank ahead of him are Drazen Petrovic, Arvydas Sabonis (arrived to the NBA past his prime), Dejan Bodiroga (he refused to go to the NBA but never knew why), Dirk Nowitzki or the aforementioned Pau Gasol. And I'm sure I'm forgetting some others.

Hopefully I'm wrong and he makes it to the NBA and has a long and great career, though.

[mgtr81]

By the way, good article, Tim.

[Jestor]

http://dallassportsfanatic.com/luka-don ... ign=buffer

Combination shameless self plug/hyping a guy for a future CSL class. Manu, I'd loved to have gotten your take on him, but didn't think of it until too late.

I think he is better fit for European basketball, to be honest. He has a lot of talent, but not sure the NBA is the right place for that kind of player. This last season his team (Real Madrid) lost the national league Finals against Valencia when they were the heavy favorites. It was obviously not his fault being such a young player, but others before him at very young age had taken their teams on their shoulders to win titles here (Pau Gasol did the season before leaving to the NBA, for example).

I'm basically saying this because of he "greatest European prospect" tag. I don't think so. He is very talented and will be a very good basketball player. As far as fundamentals go, he is likely better than any NCAA prospect. But I don't think he is the best prospect ever from Europe. A few that come to mind that I'd rank ahead of him are Drazen Petrovic, Arvydas Sabonis (arrived to the NBA past his prime), Dejan Bodiroga (he refused to go to the NBA but never knew why), Dirk Nowitzki or the aforementioned Pau Gasol. And I'm sure I'm forgetting some others.

Hopefully I'm wrong and he makes it to the NBA and has a long and great career, though.

Nowitzki and Gasol were pretty under the radar coming into the NBA, though - Doncic, I think, is getting the most hype ever precisely because he's so young and is already so technically skilled, so I think people are looking at traditional growth/development curves and getting excited about what they see as his upside (at least those who have compared him to Magic). I'll note that Pau was 20 when he lead his team to a title, 2 years older than Doncic. The fit is definitely a huge question mark, I agree, and one of the reasons why although he's getting that potential #1 chatter, a lot of it is going to depend on who's picking high in the draft - opinions are just that opposite on what he'll be.

Thanks, by the way.

[WillyJakkz]

Great read and congrats.

He looks very good, I'm the type of guy that is big on IQ over athleticism and you could see his IQ would easily get him over on guys who think with their body first and their mind second. Pump fakes and skill level the playing field and he has got the goods so thanks for putting me on to someone new.

[Chilikonkarne]

He is killing the Euro competition right now : 15.7pts, 7.7rbd and 3.1rbd

They just bet the Latvia of Porzingis in 1/4 Finals and he went 27pts and 9rbd. Playing Spain tonight. The kid is really impressive and not afraid to take responsibilities. But still, his stock is going down (Ranked #4 on DraftExpress). Not drafting him#1 next year would be a mistake.