[Celtics3178Participant]

 He just played KP team and he dropped 26 to KP 34. A couple different instance he just blew by KP. He looks like he could legit be a star. I think he even be in talks at the 1 when the time comes. Hes still just a kid but his game looks like a man. He’s pretty devloped offensively he can shoot pass good iq and he’s athletic. Not sure about his defense but man he looks like a star in the making. 

[ChewyParticipant]

 you have three options that all have #1 pick potential. All of them can be franchise cornerstones. Right now for an early early assessment I’d take Luka 2nd overall behind Bagley. 

[Anton123Participant]

Luka has had a lot of hype as a potential #1 pick, but I just don’t see the franchise-changing potential, he lacks what all elite wings have — the ability to create his own offense 1 on 1 or get by slower defenders. When guys like Kevin Seraphin switch on Luka, Doncic dribbles for 10 seconds, fails to get past them, takes the ball out and settles for stepback off-balance threes. As a result, this tournament 61,5% of all his FGA have been threes, and he’s converting them at a pretty bad 33,9% (that’s with a closer three point line).

Still love him as a prospect, just not as a potential top pick. I’ve been watching him for two years now, and, perhaps, I’ve began picking his game apart a bit too much. 

[holefillers1Participant]

 100% agree and if you arent a lockdown defender like Klay Thompson or Leonard,  you better be able to score from everywhere.  Two-way wings still rule this league

[GronounoursParticipant]

 At 18, most player still have a lot of untapped potential. Doncic on the other hand is already playing almost like a veteran, and won’t progress much IMO. He isn’t that athletic or quick, which will always hinder him.

I don’t think he’ll ever be a star in the NBA. Still a very good prospect though. 

[A Lil EnglishParticipant]

Watching him in Eurobasket for the first time, I am sold. People have mentioned his maturity in his game but I did not realise he was such a fiery competitor and a leader. 

He doesn’t always settle for threes. Many times I have seen him blow by people, like the OP said. That said his perimeter game has tons of potential. His most impressive attribute to me is his vision & playmaking.

Here are his highlights from yesterdays victory over reigning champions Spain – http://www.youtube.com/watch

 

[Robb_CParticipant]

 If Luka measures out at 6’8 or above I can see him being a very good smallball powerfoward due to his size and physical natural.. He’s very skilled obviously, but I dont see a ton of potential with him compared to Porter, Bagley or Ayton..  I think scouts overreact to how fundamentally sound international prospects are and sometimes fail to realize speed and athleticism can take someone out of their comfort zone.. 

 

I have Luka rated the number 4 prospect.

[2quick4uParticipant]

 what Luka Doncic is doing is unprecedented, especially for someone who plays his position.

I’m tired of reading comments of people saying that he’s just playing at that level because european basketball is not that good, and that he won’t be able to be a star in the NBA.

I guess that most people who think like that don’t know much about european basketball and its toughness, but i’ll tell you something, any player from this draft like Porter, Bagley, Ayton or from the last draft, Fultz, ball, Tatum or whoever you want, would not play more than 15 min a game for a team like Eslovenia or Spain, and would struggle so bad against the toughness of that competition.

I don’t know if Doncic will be the nº1 pick because that will depend on the needs of the team that selects first, but one thing sure is that right now, Doncic talent as a player is way above Porter, Bagley or Ayton…

Another thing i’d like to comment is his natural position, because again, is frustrating how people and even this site, label him as a SF or even as a point forward.. NO, Doncic is a PG, but the guy is so talented and so physically matured that he can play any position from 1 to 3 and could even play as a 4 in today’s game..but if you really want to maxify his talents or get a unique player, then he has to play the PG, because the combination of that size, that vision and passing ability, those skills and that absurd IQ is something very very unique we have not seen many times in the history of the game, and that includes the NBA.

If Gordon Hayward, a player whom resembles a bit although Luka is more of a PG, is able to put up the numbers he’s having and be a franchise player in the league, I guarantee that Doncic is a more talented player than Hayward and will no doubt be a franchise player..

 

 

 

 

 

[Robb_CParticipant]

 Im sorry but hes not a point guard.. you are what you’re able to guard in the League. Hes not gonna be able to guard PGs consistently.. I appreciate your enthusiasm about Lukas prospects but I doubt he runs an offense at the NBA level.

Hes a Sf/Pf, I personally think people get to caught up in positions.. for the most part positions are based of speed/size. You honestly believe Luka can give 32 mpg guarding NBA pgs and Ill show you my bridge in Brooklyn im trying to sell. Luka is talented but lets not overhype the kids game when we know the Fiba EuroBasket talent pool is way down this year.

 

 

 

[2quick4uParticipant]

I guess you have not followed Doncic career much and you haven’t seen him play much neither, especially when you say that he’s a PF.. that tells me enough.

but if that statement wasn’t enough, it keeps getting worse when you say that he is a PF because "you are what you’re able to guard in the league".. I could give you a very large list of players, many of them stars, who can’t play defense at all and can’t hold their man; that statement again is absurd.. could magic johnson defend PG? can Lonzo Ball stay in front of his man?

but besides that, you are underrating Doncic’s defense too much or again, you haven’t seen him much, because actually Doncic is a pretty good defender considering his age and the competion his facing; yes, his lateral quickness is not the greatest, but that’s because he is still adapting to his body as he has grown 2’5 inches in the last 2 years and his body is still not made yet, but you can see his improvment this last year and you can see how he’ll drastically improve in the nba once his body is done.

and yes, Doncic natural position is the PG and the team that drafts him will give him the ball to run the offense since day 1, and in case he can’t guard some PG’s, that won’t be a problem because he’ll be able to defend the 2 or the 3 and someone else guard the PG, but again that won’t happen many time..

and about overhyping Doncic, again and just to inform you, no one in the history of european basketball has done what DOncic is doing at the age of 18, no one.. Sabonis, Petrovic, Kukoc, Nowitzki, Gasol, Toni Parker you name it..no one.. so that’s not overhyping that is stateting a reality.

Overhyping is when you say all this things for a player that has achieved nothing and finally gets drafted very high because of that..obviously most times those players finally dissapoint all the people, but those kids are not the problem, the problem are the GM that select that high players that have proved nothing. 

A recent case for example would be Dragan Bender, a guy who was being labeled as the next Tony Kukoc, which was totally absurd, and now altough the kid has talent, he’s dissapointing people.

That’s not Doncic case, everything said about him is not enough and is well deserved because he’s breaking molds, and at only 18, he is already a top 5 player in Europe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Robb_CParticipant]

 He will not play PG in the league, the PACE is way to fast.. Sorry dude not happening.

[Robb_CParticipant]

 I also watched Luka get blown passed Spains guards pretty consistently.. it seemed like his teammates had to be accountable to help in some instances..I value Luka as a secondary ball handler who could ultimately bring defenders out which would create incredible mismatches.. Hes a SF/PF in my eyes not a point guard, I don’t really see his PG game translating to the league all that great, definitely skilled and Im definitely a fan.. I just personally feel Luka wont be able to consistently guard PGs.. He struggles with it on the international level he’s definitely going to in the league.

Luka playing multiple positions oppose to running the point is much more valuable in my eyes.

 

 

 

[SlickBouncePassParticipant]

but also I remember that the kid is 18.  And I remember that things you see at 18 in a player you are likely to see for the rest of their careers.  Although this isn’t the NCAA, his knack for getting to the paint against legitimate pros (who may not be as long as top defenders in the NBA), will be a part of his game into his 30s.

Look at it this way, the kid is 18, and he is only going to have more experience, I see him as a very high IQ player that isn’t afraid of anyone at 18, including a top 3 euro player of all time in Pau Gasol.

As others have said, the only thing that will hold him back is his athleticism, otherwise he checks every box.  There isn’t one thing that stands out (like Dirk’s shot, or Pau’s length), but I see this kid crafty enough to definitely have a Ginobli type of career.  

He checks all the boxes.  I’d take him 2nd right now behind Bagley.  

Bagley has everything, Doncic is missing athleticism, and Porter to me doesn’t have that IT factor, but let’s see.  Ayton and Bamba, and then to me Sexton.  

This draft has some nice options at most positions in the top 7 or 8.

Its starting to make me think would I rather have just taken Josh Jackson with the 3rd overall, and kept the Lakers pick and used it to take someone in the top 5.

Doncic Porter and Bagley would fit in really nicely with the Sixers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

[BeastMode716Participant]

 he will become? Dominique Wilkins (to name one example) was one of the best Pure basketball players who has Ever lived but he did not have enough to take a team to the Championship 

I can name others – Allen Iverson, Steve Nash, Carmelo – we can go on & on – players who are Stunningly talented but b/c the NBA is such a strange sport in that it can & IS Dominated by Individual Greatness that leads to Rings 

Luka Doncic is by Any metric a Fantastic young Talent but when a team is Drafting #1 in the Draft, historically they are Hoping for a Franchise cornerstone; a Dominant #1 option who will Lead the team to Rings

Doncic for me lacks the Elite athleticism that a NBA WIng player Must have in order to Dominate on the NBA level – 

So are we saying Doncic can be an All Star one day? I’d go along w/ that – Yes – Possibly

Or are we saying that Doncic will be a Better Franchise cornerstone than Michael Porter Jr, DeAndre Ayton or Marvin Bagley who a team can plug into their franchise & Build a Championship core Around that particular talent. 

Or let’s name a few up & coming under 25 y/o Stars that Franchise’s HAVE already committed to as "that guy" – KAT & Wiggins, Greek Freak & Jabari Parker, Porzingus, Ball & Ingram, Booker & Josh Jackson, Lillard & McCollum, Nurkic & Murray, Embiid, Simmons & Fultz

Now Clearly those are ALL great young players but Not all of them are Winning Rings – maybe 2 or 3 of those Duo’s or 3somes (in the Sixers case) will win Rings (& if I missed your team forgive me) but some of these Youngs studs WILL win a Ring or Rings

Are we saying Doncic can be That guy to lead a team to a Championship. To give reference Doncic’s #’s are Very similar to Dario Saric’s stats but Saric was 21 & Doncic is 18 so judge that for what it is – personally I just can not put Doncic in that Upper Echelon of future Super Star like Anthony Davis or KAT or Joel Embiid – 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[The GoatParticipant]

 I think everyones definition of success is different. Where would you draft someone like Draymond or Toni Kukoc on a redraft? Would you think they carry value to be a top 3 pick? There are players that have talent to play a niche and help teams win. I think Luka can be that type of a player if taken by the right team.  If you are trying to get a guy at the top that will gets points, sell tickets and be your all star as opposed to guys that can get a job done, then I don’t think he’s the right player to draft. He will come into the league with good experience at a young age and some unique combination of skills. He would be ideal for a mid range team that has already acquired an all star piece or two and/or someone else’s lottery pick. 

[Robb_CParticipant]

 This is my few of him as well, kinda in that Draymond Green role but a better playmaker.

[HitsterParticipant]

 We all know he’s not an outstanding athletic specium like some of the other elite guys in next year’s draft but he maybe has the edge with intangibles and basketball IQ.

If I could define his value best, he may not be that superstar/franchise changer that teams hope for but paired with an elite young athletic running mate, he could be the guy who makes them both better players. He is the glue on the team, does the small things we don’t notice, facilitates the plays etc.

Also with his skillset we have to consider how much he will improve when he is surrounded by top level NBA players.

I have him in that consensus group of the top 5 in next year’s mocks with a drop off to the rest. Where he will go and before who, I cannot really say given positional needs etc. Lets say it was Sac-Town on the clock then he is more logical for them than Bamba or Ayton for example but for other teams he may not be.

 

 

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 He is an elite prospect . I think sometimes people try to dig way too deep into a players weaknesses that they completely miss their strengths. For his size is playmaking is at such a high level its remarkable. Theres very few players capable of playing forward that can pass like that. His shot selection and shooting form is a bit inconsistant but its obvious the kid can shoot and is not just a spot up shooter, he makes difficult shots. He has a great handle and an awesome feel for the game and understands his surroundings.

  People say its a bad thing that he has a mature physical profile because that aspect of his game wont improve but you gotta understand going from 200 to 230 pounds is not easy and takes alot of effort that can be applied elsewhere. For him to have already developed his body whether it was natural or through work ethic is a blessing as he can use his free time developing his game instead. His athletisism isnt elite or shocking but he is by no means a terrible athlete to the point where he is a liability. Either way effort trumps everything so as long as he ends up bringing it consistently he will be fine.

One legit knock on his actual game/sklillset as I mentioned would be his tendency too take bad shots. He kind of plays like James Harden on the perimeter although he doesnt seem to attack the rim as often as you would like despite having the handle and strength to thrive in that area. Im confident this will change and as soon as he gets to the NBA he will be strictly told to attack the rim and take advantage of the current NBA rules where free throw attempts are rewarded for even the slightest contact.

With all that being said Bamba just looks way too good for me to wanna pass up on. He has added tons of weight from the looks of it and a perimeter game. Bagley also is hard to pass on and Ive kinda got those 2 tied but i would pick Doncic ahead of Porter and Ayton. We’ll see hopw it goes Im sure it will be similar to last years fluctuating race.

 

[GronounoursParticipant]

"Either way effort trumps everything"

That would be great, but it’s obviously not true.

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Your just not trying hard enough.

[kobyzParticipant]

 I see him becoming the player Evan Turner was supposed to be…

[TheLastWordParticipant]

Easy #1 pick. He can do it all. I’ve heard Hayward comparisons but he is way ahead of him in every category.  It will be a joy to get him in the NBA and watch him.

[BallerScriptParticipant]

 Luka is interesting as a prospect and I agree that he can be one of those super star role players like Draymond, Gobert. 

Right now I think the consensus bigboard is:

1. Michael Porter Jr
2. Marvin Bagley
3. Luka Doncic
4. Mohamed Bamba
5. DeAndre Ayton

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 So he ends up on the Eurobasket all tournament team averaging 14-points, 8-rebounds and 4-assists while winning Gold at the age of 18. For those who dont understand thats unheard of. 

[EndlessknightParticipant]

Jonathan Givony just put Doncic as #1 in his new ESPN mock.

His top 5 are:

1. Doncic
2. Porter
3. Bagley
4. Ayton
5. Bama

http://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/20343849/2018-nba-mock-draft-michael-porter-marvin-bagley-luka-doncic-more

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