NO LONGER a stranger to playing professional basketball having already dipped his hands in it in Europe even at a young age, it is no surprise that Dallas Mavericks rookie Luka Doncic is handling things well now that he is in the National Basketball Association.
But while he is seemingly transitioning well in The Association, the 19-year-old Doncic admits that there are still things he is still adjusting to and learning about, including developing his game to adapt to the level of play of the NBA and enduring the struggles of playing for a rebuilding team like the Mavericks.
Selected third overall in this year’s NBA rookie draft by the Atlanta Hawks before being dealt to the Mavericks for another talented rookie in Trae Young and a future draft pick on draft night, Doncic has emerged as one of the anchors in Dallas.
He currently leads the Mavericks in scoring with an average of 19.5 points and minutes per game (33.7), while being second in rebounds (6.6 rpg), second in assists (4.2 apg), and fourth in three-point percentage (37.9%).
Mr. Doncic, who made a name for himself while playing for champion club Real Madrid in the EuroLeague, has been hailed as the future of the Lone Star team next to sure-fire first-ballot Hall-of-Famer Dirk Nowitzki.
It is something Mr. Doncic expressed readiness for but does not want to rush, believing there is still much to learn.
“We have many leaders, I think, but of course I always consider myself as a future — I want to be a leader. That’s how I feel. In some future, my team is going to help me so I can be one,” said the Slovenian guard in a recent global conference call, the transcript of which was shared to BusinessWorld by the league.
He went on to say that the change in scenery for him from Europe to the United States has been a non-issue so far and that he is adjusting well and considers Dallas as his new home.
“I moved when I was 13 from Slovenia, from my home, to Spain. So this time it was really easy for me. It wasn’t difficult at all. I feel like Dallas is my home now,” said Mr. Doncic.
If at all though, playing for a Mavericks team right smack in a rebuilding process and still finding its consistent footing in winning is the biggest adjustment he is dealing with right now, especially since he is coming from Real Madrid, which is a consistent winner in Europe.
“It’s really hard because I was a person who gets really upset if we don’t win, and for me it’s been hard, the games we lose. But I think it’s just the beginning of the season. We have a lot of games to go, and we’re going to get together and the chemistry is going to get better and we’re going to win some games,” he said.
As of this writing, the Mavericks are perched at 13th place in the Western Conference with a 7-8 record.
Mr. Doncic also said he trusts the abilities of Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle and that he enjoys playing for him.
“He’s (Carlisle) a great coach, and I really like him. It’s great to have — he was an NBA champion, so he’s a great coach,” the exciting rookie said.
With his splendid play of late, Mr. Doncic is in the middle of the mix of rookie of the year talk, the thought of which has him excited but not necessarily he is putting much weight on at this moment, choosing instead to focus on helping the team win and improving his game.
“Yeah, of course it would be special [to win rookie of the year], but for me it’s always for the team. Of course I want to enter the playoffs first. That’s my goal, and later the individual stuff. But yeah, of course it would be something special,” he said.
Adding, “I always like to have the ball in my hand, create for others. I always want to play a lot of pick-and-roll. But here it’s different because here there are so many great players, so many talented and athletic players, and everybody can play.”
Mr. Doncic and the Mavericks play the Memphis Grizzlies today. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
