3. Luka Doncic, SG, Dallas Mavericks
Doncic has a leg up on the competition, given he’s essentially won this award twice in Euroleague. This is valuable experience that will surely help him in the push to win Rookie of the Year in the NBA.
In all seriousness, though, Doncic is probably the most prepared for the grind of the NBA, he enters the best team situation of anyone picked in the top five, and he also is very likely the highest ceiling player in the class, with the potential to be a strong two-way player with elite passing vision that can become a primary scorer for a contender. It stands to reason that thanks to his successes in Euroleague, Doncic will be able to hit the ground running as he transitions into a secondary playmaking role next to Dennis Smith, and he should pile up assist numbers running pick-and-rolls with DeAndre Jordan.
Now, it’s not exactly a given that he’ll be the best player right away. The translation from Europe to the U.S. isn’t always easy, even though Doncic’s English is fine. There’s also the wear-and-tear question, as Doncic has played nearly as many games as LeBron James over the past two seasons. Even though Doncic is probably the best equipped to perform at a high level, he might have his own development curve to deal with, and that’s even before we get to the questions of how his athleticism translates. But in terms of the qualities that contribute best to winning basketball — decision-making, shooting, effort, instincts — Doncic is the best candidate in the class.