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Dallas Mavericks: Can Luka Doncic be as great as his résumé?

By Andres Buenahora

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 21: Luka Doncic is introduced before the 2018 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 21, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 21: Luka Doncic is introduced before the 2018 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 21, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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The Dallas Mavericks came away with arguably the face of the 2018 NBA Draft, but can he live up to his résumé?

After a draft day trade that sent Trae Young and a future first round pick to Atlanta, the Dallas Mavericks snagged Luka Doncic with the 5th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.

The European sensation has perhaps the most impressive résumé ever of any international player to enter the league. After turning pro at the age of 13, Doncic has continued to improve every aspect of his game overseas and has the innate potential to be the best player in this draft class.

This season alone, the 19-year-old played for Real Madrid and won the EuroLeague Rising Star Award, EuroLeague Final Four MVP, ACB Most Valuable Player Award, and EuroLeague MVP. At 6-foot-8 and 228 pounds, Doncic will be able to physically overpower the average NBA guard.

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However, the beauty of his game lies in his remarkable skills from a basketball standpoint. His ball-handling, shooting touch, and court vision along with his high basketball IQ make him a very intriguing prospect.

In Addition, Doncic is not playing in a weak college program in which his stats can be inflated. He is the best player in the second best league in the world and is playing against grown men night in night out. His production is unheard of for a player of his age, and his versatility as a scorer in pick and rolls, post up situations and off the dribble make him a multi-dimensional scorer who will be a tough cover for smaller opponents at the next level.

The only real weakness of the guard’s game pertains to his athletic ability, if anything. And that’s the biggest aspect of his game that has been questioned in the pre-draft process. Being that the NBA game is played at a much faster pace than in Europe, Doncic will have to adjust to the speed and athleticism of the best basketball league in the world.

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However, there is no doubt that he is an extremely versatile player and his superior size and skills make him an absolute steal at the 5th spot in the draft for the Mavericks, who hope he can be the next great European star in the NBA and the heir to the throne of Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki.

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