By: Drew Zlogar
BROOKLYN, NY — Luka Doncic is headed to Dallas.
Doncic, a 19-year old Slovenian sensation, had been one of the most-talked-about players leading up to the 2018 NBA Draft before being selected No. 3 overall by the Atlanta Hawks and then being traded to the Dallas Mavericks.
In the past calendar year, Doncic has earned the EuroLeague Rising Star Award, Euroleague MVP, and was an integral part of a Euroleague championship for his Real Madrid squad, and now he is officially a top-3 pick in the NBA Draft class of 2018.
“Honestly it has been a dream. To be Euroleague Champions, and now being drafted – it all feels like a dream,” Doncic said.
The pick didn’t come seamlessly, as Dallas and Atlanta agreed on a trade that would send Trae Young and a future first round pick to Atlanta, and Doncic to Dallas.
The uncertainty on draft night didn’t faze Doncic.
“I have been talking to Dallas a lot and I knew they wanted me. They are very nice, and nice to me and I know we will have a good relationship,” he answered when asked if he was shocked about the trade.
Doncic joins a Dallas team that is searching for playmakers to pair with last year’s lottery pick Dennis Smith Jr. and Mavericks legend, Dirk Nowitzki. The thought of joining forces with those two excites him.
“Yea I have watched him a lot, and (Smith Jr.) is an amazing player and point guard,” he said. “And of course Dirk. He is such a good example, and such a great leader – I am happy to be here.”
At 19 years old, Doncic is similar in age to many of the one-and-done players selected in this class (Deandre Ayton, Marvin Bagley III, Trae Young, etc), however, the Slovenian national team member brings over three years of high-level professional playing experience, something that no other player in the entire Draft class can say they have.
“I think it will help me,” he said. “I have been professional since I was 15 years old and have been competing against some of the best European players and ex-NBA players. I have had four or five players on my team that have played in the NBA, so they had been telling me a lot about the NBA this year, so I think I am prepared.”
Doncic joins a slew of impressive European-born players already in the league and is honored to now be apart of an esteemed group.
“We have had some amazing players from (then) Yugoslavia. There are many that are playing not in the NBA, but also in the NBA, like (Nikola) Jokic and (Milos) Teodosic and I think I can now be apart of that,” he said.
Some of the best players from this region in the NBA bring a flare to the game that is admired by so many fans across the world like Jokic’s ability to throw passes like some of the top point guards in the game and Goran Dragic’s tenacious style of play. When it comes to this region, the top players all bring something unique.
Then there is Luka Doncic.
At 6-foot-8, 230 pounds, he has the physical makeup to be able to drive into the lane and finish strong drives with defenders around him. He also has the shooting touch to be able to knock down deep three-pointers if the defender leaves his hand down.
And most importantly, he wins.
The hype surrounding Doncic has been a hot topic and for good reason. Some media members have compared him to the late Dragan Petrovic, who is widely considered one of the best players coming from this part of Europe.
“Dragan was an amazing player, I have watched a lot of him. So to be compared to him is great, and I will need to work hard everyday if I want to be like Dragan,” said Doncic.
Doncic was one of three European-born first round picks at the draft (Moritz Wagner – Germany – 25th overall to the Lakers, and Dzanan Musa – Bosnia and Herzegovina – 29th overall to the Nets).
There were nine total European-born players selected in the 2018 NBA Draft.
The Phoenix Suns selected French-born Elie Okobo 31st overall, Philadelphia 76ers grabbed Isaac Bonga from Germany 39th overall, the Brooklyn Nets drafted Rodions Kurucs from Latvia 40th overall, the Washington Wizards selected Issuf Sanan from Ukraine 44th overall, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk also from Ukraine was taken 47th overall by the Lakers, at 55th overall the Charlotte Hornets took Arnoldis Kulboka from Lithuania, while Kostas Antetokounmpo, younger brother of Giannis Antetokounmpo, was taken with the last pick of the draft, No. 60 overall, by the 76ers.
Each player selected hopes to have positive impacts on their respective franchises, but none will have to deal with the expectations that will be on Doncic.
His winning pedigree, and skill set that hasn’t been seen before from such a young prospect, will be called upon early and often next season for the Dallas Mavericks, and the challenge of playing at a high level against some of the best athletes in the world excites him.
“Just playing the game against all these superstars. Guys like LeBron, Stephen (Curry), KD – I think playing against the superstars is what I am most excited for.”
The long-awaited arrival of Doncic into the NBA is now over and Dallas will hope to reap the benefits of his production.
Just how productive he ends up being remains to be seen, but if history tells us anything, Doncic will figure out a way to elevate the Mavericks to new heights they haven’t experienced in a few seasons.
