Concerns about Luka Doncic’s athleticism were overblown
By Dave Daniels
Luka Doncic is shutting up any speculation that he’s not athletic enough to excel in the NBA.
Dallas Mavericks rookie Luka Doncic looks like he’s on his way to a Rookie of the Year award.
There were questions about the forward’s athleticism coming into the season. Scouts could clearly see that he was an excellent passer, shooter, and ball-handler, but could he compete with the talent in the NBA when it came to size, speed, and jumping ability?
Doncic has put any of those concerns to bed by this point. Check out this move he put on the Houston Rockets.
That is a player quite familiar with throwing it down. His coach certainly thinks the Mavericks have a special player on their hands.
“Donnie [Don Nelson] felt he was a completely unique style of international player, someone that you really couldn’t compare to any one guy,” head coach Rick Carlisle said to SI.com. “I’ve found that to be true.”
The Mavericks believed that Doncic was the best prospect in the 2018 NBA Draft, and that’s why they traded the No. 5 overall pick and a future first-rounder to the Atlanta Hawks to move up and draft him. Their faith in the rookie is paying off so far. Carlisle recently threw a little bit of shade at the guard the Hawks drafted instead of Doncic.
“Atlanta got a great player in Trae Young,” Carlisle said. “We get a guy that we think is a franchise foundation piece.”
It’s hard to argue with him there. And if you’re thinking about Young’s edge in deep shooting, check out this 40-footer Doncic hit earlier in the same game.
Young is shooting 25.4 percent on 3-pointers and averaging almost six attempts per game. Doncic, on the other hand, is averaging 19.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists this season. He is also shooting 39.5 percent from 3-point range and making 2.5 3-pointers per contest. The Mavericks are 10-9 so far this year, and they would make the playoffs if the season ended today.
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Dallas clearly isn’t a contender yet, but they are building the base of a team that could be one in the near future. Doncic appears to be the athletic and foundational piece that can carry them there.