Luka Donic Comparrison

 I see some similarities to Chris Mullin. 

The problem is Harden is low key one of the best athletes in the NBA. If you disagree, you don’t watch basketball or know the game.

He can rise, has incredible quickness, and picks his spots better than anyone in the league. Luka lacks those first two characteristics, but does pick his spots extremely well. 

 The similarity would be how they both use change of pace to catch defenders off guard and then attack once a defender is leaning. Harden combines that skill with phenomenal ball handling, shooting and probably a little better athleticism than Doncic. But other than their ability to use some change of pace to attack defenders, the comparrison is kind of a stretch.

People always want to compare someone or something to someone or something else, that they know, in order to understand it … but in the case of sports, players are never the same. Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant were similar, but at the end of the day, they were also very different and it is within those variances were separation was created.

I’m not sure there is a player in the NBA like Doncic, and that’s okay.

 Gordon Hayward. 

Just because he is a ball handling forward/guard, doesnt make him Harden. He is not and will not be close to Harden…Hayward is a max contract guy in his own right. Most fitting, IMO.

 I actually threw that comparison for doncic out there a few weeks ago but I’ll admit it’s not perfect. Not sure if he’ll be on hardens level as a scorer in the nba, but there are definitely similarities in terms of playmaking ability and shiftiness off the dribble. I’m not sure if he’s quite as good a shooter or as explosive off the first step though. 

 He reminds me of Goran Dragoc

 I think hes a good blend of joe johnson and james harden 

 The reason I think Luka Doncic will be succcessful offensively at the next level is his ballhandling and creativity. The most dynamic players in the NBA have these skills. His offense is based on the exact some principals Harden uses. If the defence gives space shoot the open shot, if they crowd the shot drive, if the defense collapses kick it out, if they dont take the short range j or the layup. This is why people compare him to Harden his offense is based off the dribble.

 Teams can gameplan all they want but when you have the abillity to keep the ball on a string and the imagination to solve what the defense throws at you scoring will come naturally. Doncic is also very agressive and comfortable with the pressure having played against some hostile road crowds in Europe who’s fans are different from American sports fans. He’s legit and I think if he played on a team like Sacramento this year he would probably be the 3rd to 5th best rookie around the Tatum, Markannen, Kuzma level of productivity.

 His Playing style is like penny!

 His Playing style is like penny!

 With Simmons playing PG full time its hard to say now days where Luka could actually play.

I could see him playing prodominately SG/part time P.G

So the players I sort of see him like

D angelo Russell-The shooting Mechanics look very similar

Mike Conley-Handles/Speed.

Bogdan(kings rookie this year) who replace Buddy in starting lineup.

Parts of Goran Dragics game(but not fully like him).

Victor oladipo/Donovan Mitchell.

Jamal Murray

The hard question is he is 6/8 yet doesn’t seem to athletic which is a little worrying but overall his game should translate and I most likely see him going top 5 as long as the team doesn’t have a top PG(if they believe he is that F.T) or SG(if they believe his natural postion is that).

Honestly I can’t find a legemit comparison to him, there is always 2 different main variable in any comparison with any player I think of.
Simmons? Doncic is shorter, less athletic, better shooter. make it complete different player
Harden? Doncic is less athletic while being bigger
Lebron? Doncic is way less athletic while being better shooter
Hedo? Doncic is quicker, way better ball handler and is smaller than him.

 kobyz, I can see the Penny comp.  But, once Penny lost most of his athleticism.  Ironically, another guy on the Memphis Tigers coaching staff is another great comp for Doncic: Mike Miller.

Luka, unfortunately, might not have either the speed/quickness/explosiveness/athleticism to thrive in the NBA nor the pure jump shot.

I think I have him 8 (or a bit lower) on my latest internal mock draft (and I actually moved him UP a bit from my last poll).

Not super excited about this guy.

Right now he is playing point guard and getting torched by the great Nick Calathes in the Euro playoffs.

He might be the most-hyped "do everything" wing/forward type since Billy Owens and he didn’t really blow away the NBA either.

Doncic isn’t on LeBron’s level in a lot of ways, but I also think that his best NBA position will be small ball power point forward spot will be ideal for Doncic. Yeah, you basically have to build your offense around him, then work around him on defense.

Worth the trouble?

Yeah, he could turn into an All Star.

If I were a betting man though I would put a few bucks on him being the NBA equivalent of Ryan Leaf.

 Lots of skills,lots of intangibles,lots of cojones.

 I like actually like and agree with the Turkogolu comparison. He’s a little bit smaller and more dynamic but their style of play is very much a like… Turkogolu instinctively came to mind when I first watched him play.

I may be off base, but from what I’ve seen I think Brandon Roy. Not a super athlete but an extremely smart, crafty and special talent.