Sir Charles in Charge
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The castle of basketball emperors: Playing against Luka Doncic

By Travis Harmon-Smith

DALLAS, TEXAS - MARCH 06: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts during play against the Memphis Grizzlies in the second half at American Airlines Center on March 06, 2020 in Dallas, Texas. 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 Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TEXAS - MARCH 06: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts during play against the Memphis Grizzlies in the second half at American Airlines Center on March 06, 2020 in Dallas, Texas. 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 Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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A one-on-one fortress match-up against the NBA’s scoring emperor. Does anyone have a chance at beating Luka Doncic?

It’s medieval times, inside of a grandeur, spooky, and dark palace where battles happen every day. Slowly, the doors open, and the doomy feeling we had initially, diminished once we walked inside the castle of basketball emperors.

More footsteps, but not too many. There aren’t many steps to take against a 6-foot-7 Slovenian emperor. And, even the notion of dominating Luka Doncic in a one-on-one situation shouldn’t even be a thought. This castle isn’t about psychology.

The extensive battlements of the fortress are more far-reaching than your chance of blocking one of Doncic’s 3-pointers. Not even close. After shooting a well-nigh 50 percent from the field in the 2019-20 season, playing him one-on-one right now? Don’t do it to yourself. No one wants to meet embarrassment amid battle.

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He’s too tall. He’s too skilled. If you play him to 16 by one’s, will you score a bucket? No. And, that’s kind of where we’re going with this. Take a chance card from the monopoly board and see what you come up with. The chance of dominating Luka one-on-one, or in a game-time situation, was something everyone found to be wrong early on in Ljubljana. But Luka built a different castle. One with substantial scoring averages, with one thought in mind. Destroy everybody. Check ball, your highness.

Doncic, a Slovenian-born professional basketball player, took a route virtually no one expected. Younger than the average, Luka’s prominent journey began with hometown professional basketball club, Union Olimpija. This fortress of dominance was more splendid for the Slovenian emperor. At just age 14, Luka’s game blossomed. But proving to be the best in Slovenia was the last thing on his mind.

Around that time, natural scoring and double-digits became the norm. Considered as the youngest player on a Slovenian roster, he was among the top players when he played on the Spanish club, Real Madrid. While there, in 2012, Doncic averaged 13-plus points a game, including a 30-plus per game average and MVP-run in the Lido Di Roma Tournament.

Once Doncic exited the castle doors of Real Madrid, he entered the door of something more dominant than his own game, the Euroleague. Entering the Euroleague at age 16, there was never any doubt that Luka would be the next big thing. Rising to stardom, more than a goal. To beat him inside of this castle is a problem more than the biggest problem. And, that’s getting taken off the dribble, with a one-handed jam.

More problematic than a 16-year-old kid getting his XBOX Live taken away for a week. A big problem. There were more problems in the Real Madrid castle when Doncic began to flourish in 2018. With an eruptive showing in the Spanish Cup, Luka became the youngest player to be named EuroLeague Final Four MVP, averaging 16 points, and consequently was named to the EuroLeague all-decade team.

Among basketball emperors in the castle, the only emperor who controls his destiny is Luka. That destiny would lead to an NBA dream. What started as a dream ended up becoming a one-on-one nightmare for every guard in the league. That nightmare began with him as the No. 3 overall pick to the Atlanta Hawks.

And, once the Dallas Mavericks acquired Doncic in a trade deal, the chances became even slimmer. Deemed as one of, if not, the best NBA prospect in decades, the fortress of dominance Luka has built with the Mavericks is unblemished. How hard would it be to defeat Luka inside the castle of basketball emperors? Well, after a tempestuous season, scoring nearly 30 points a game, you know the answer.

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Doncic became the scoring emperor of Slovenia. But he’s now the emperor of a dominating Mavericks organization set to do damage in the 2020-21 season. The damage could begin on Dec. 22 with the new NBA season set to start. That doomy feeling we felt deep inside upon arrival at the castle is still there. Why? No one among the basketball emperors can defeat Luka one-on-one. Inside of this castle? You’re insane. He has one motive.

DESTROY EVERYBODY.

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