Luka Doncic: A Basketball Reference

Doncic is a 6’7″ shooting guard/small forward who plays for the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA. He was born in Slovenia and played professionally in the EuroLeague for Real Madrid before being drafted 3rd overall by the Mavericks in the 2018 NBA draft He is one of the best young players in the NBA, and is a Rookie of the Year candidate.

Early Life and Career

Luka Doncic was born on February 28, 1999, in Ljubljana, Slovenia, to Slovenian mom Mirjam Poterbin and Serbian dad Sasa Doncic. He began playing organized basketball at age 8 for Union Olimpija, a Slovenian Professional Basketball Club In 2012, at age 13, he signed a contract with Real Madrid of the Spanish League becoming the youngest player ever to play for the club.

Doncic made his professional debut with Real Madrid during the 2015-16 season at age 16. In 2016-17, he helped lead Madrid to the League Championship being named both the EuroLeague rising star and Final Four MVP. After winning another EuroLeague title in 2018, he was named the EuroLeague MVP and Final Four MVP for a second time.

In June 2018, Doncic was selected with the third overall pick in the NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks He was then traded to the Dallas Mavericks During his rookie season in 2018-19, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team and was a finalist for NBA Rookie of the Year.

Doncic’s Rookie Season

In his rookie season, Luka Doncic averaged 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 6 assists per game leading the Dallas Mavericks to a 33-49 record and missing the playoffs. He was named the 2018-19 NBA Rookie of the year, becoming the first European player to win the award.

Doncic’s Sophomore Season

In his sophomore season, Doncic averaged 28.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 8.8 assists per game becoming the first player in NBA history to average at least 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists in their sophomore season. He led the Mavericks to a 33–19 record and the seventh seed in the Western Conference In the first round of the playoffs, Dallas faced the second-seeded Houston Rockets In Game 1, Doncic had 31 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists as the Mavericks won 118–110. The Mavericks went on to lose the series in six games.

Doncic’s International Career

Luka Doncic played his first game for the Slovenian National Team on September 7, 2015. He was just 15 years and 109 days old, making him the youngest player in the history of the European championship.[1]

In the 2016 FIBA U-18 European Championship, Doncic averaged 17.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.0 steals per game, leading Slovenia to a perfect 9–0 record and the gold medal [2][3] He was named MVP of the tournament after setting a new event record with 43 points in the final against Croatia.[4]

In September 2017, at age 17, Doncic helped Slovenia win its first EuroBasket title in history,[5][6] being named Final 8 MVP.[7] With his showing at EuroBasket 2017, he became the Youngest Player ever to make an All-Tournament Team in a major international event.[8][9]

Doncic’s Playstyle

Luka Doncic is a Slovenian professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played for Real Madrid of the Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroLeague from 2015 to 2018. He is a two-time EuroLeague champion, having won the title in 2016 and 2018. He was also named the EuroLeague Final Four MVP in both championship seasons. In 2019, he was named the NBA Rookie of the Year.

Doncic is 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m) tall and weighs 220 pounds (100 kg). He primarily plays as a shooting guard or small forward but he has also spent time at point guard His father, Sasa Doncic, played Professional Basketball professionally in Europe, and his mother, Mirjam Poterbin, was a member of the Yugoslavia women’s national handball team.

In June 2019, following his successful rookie season with the Mavericks, Doncic signed a multi-year shoe deal with Jordan Brand

Doncic’s Impact on the Mavericks

In just his second season in the NBA, Luka Doncic has had a profound impact on the Mavericks. The team has seen a drastic improvement in their record, going from 33-49 last season to currently sitting at 42-30. Doncic has played a major role in this turn-around, as he is averaging 28.8 points, 9.4 assists, and 8.8 rebounds per game His shooting percentages have also seen an uptick, as he is now shooting 46% from the field and 32% from three-point range

Doncic has been especially impressive in clutch situations, as he is averaging 9.7 points, 3.1 assists, and 2.6 rebounds per game in the fourth quarter of close games (games within 5 points with 5 minutes or less remaining). In these situations, he is shooting 50% from the field and 38% from three-point range. His ability to take over games in the fourth quarter has helped the Mavericks become one of the best teams in the Western Conference

The Mavericks have not been this good since the days of Dirk Nowitzki and they have Luka Doncic to thank for it. He has quickly become one of the best players in the NBA, and it looks like he will be leading the Mavericks for many years to come.

Doncic’s Future

In the long term, it is difficult to project how good Doncic can be. He has the potential to be a superstar, but there are a few factors working against him. First and foremost, he does not have elite physical tools. He is just an average athlete, and while he has good size for a guard, he does not have great length. This will limit his ability to defend at a high level and could make it difficult for him to get his shot off against longer and more athletic defenders. Additionally, while he is an excellent shooter, he does not have elite shooting range. This could become more of an issue as he faces better defenders who can contest his shot more effectively.

Doncic also has a tendency to rely too much on his jump shot which can make him easy to defend if he is not hitting his shots. He will need to continue to develop his dribble drive game in order to become harder to guard. Additionally, while he is a very smart player, he can be turnover-prone at times. This is likely due in part to the fact that he is still adjusting to the speed of the NBA game If he can cut down on his turnovers, he will be even more effective offensively.

Despite these concerns, Doncic has all the tools necessary to become one of the best players in the NBA. He has superb scoring ability, Court Vision and passing skills. He also has a High Basketball IQ and always seems to make the right play. If he can continue to improve his Jump Shot and refine his dribble drive game, there is no reason why he cannot become one of the best players in the league.

What Other Players Say About Doncic

Many experts agree that Luka Doncic is one of the most talented young players in the NBA today But what do his peers think about him? Here’s what some of the league’s Top Players have to say about the Mavericks’ 20-year-old superstar.

“An amazing player. He does everything on the court. He can shoot, he can pass, he can rebound. He’s a very smart player. He sees the game very well. He’s going to be a great player in this league for a long time.” – LeBron James

“He’s one of those guys that’s always around the ball, always making plays, always seemingly in the right place at the right time,” -Damian Lillard

“You just gotta be careful with giving him too much room because he’s crafty enough to get his shot off from anywhere once he gets going,” – Kyrie Irving

“He’s somebody that I’ve been watching and admiring from afar,” -Kobe Bryant

Why Doncic is Important to the NBA

Since being drafted in 2018, Slovenian professional basketball player Luka Doncic has taken the NBA by storm. At just 21 years of age, he is already considered one of the best players in the league. He has been praised for his all-around game and his ability to impact the game on both ends of the court. Many believe that he has the potential to be one of the greatest players of all time.

Doncic is important to the NBA for a number of reasons. First, he is a young star who is already having a huge impact on the league. Second, he is one of the few International Players who has successfully made the transition to playing in the NBA. Third, he is helping to grow the game of basketball around the world.

Doncic is an important player for the future of the NBA. He has all of the qualities that make Great players great. He is a hard worker, a gifted athlete, and a skilled playmaker. With his combination of talent and drive, there is no doubt that he will be one of the best players in the league for many years to come.

Luka Doncic: A Basketball Reference