Introducing Luka Dončić, the Slovenian sensation who has taken the NBA by storm! This young superstar plays for the Dallas Mavericks and is quickly becoming one of the best players in the league. With his impressive stats and undeniable talent, Luka is a force to be reckoned with on the court.

Dončić began his professional career with Real Madrid of the Spanish Liga ACB in 2015. He quickly established himself as one of the top players in the league, winning the EuroLeague MVP award in 2018 and leading Real Madrid to the EuroLeague championship in 2018.

In 2018, Dončić was selected as the third overall pick in the NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks but was then traded to the Dallas Mavericks. In his rookie season, he averaged 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game, becoming just the third player in NBA history to average at least 20 points, seven rebounds, and six assists in their rookie season. He also became the youngest player in the history of the NBA to record a 30-point triple-double and was named the NBA Rookie of the Year.

Dončić continues to impress in the NBA, earning his first All-Star selection in the 2019-2020 season and leading the Mavericks to the playoffs. He also became the youngest player to win the NBA All-Star Game MVP award. He also led the Mavericks to the playoffs in the following season and was selected to the All-NBA First Team.

Off the court, Dončić is known for his humble and hardworking attitude. As a result, he is a fan favourite both in Dallas and in his home country of Slovenia. He also has a close relationship with his mother and grandfather, a professional basketball player and a coach.

In addition to his success on the court, Dončić has also made a name for himself as a charismatic and confident leader who is not afraid to take the big shots and make game-winning plays. He is considered one of the best young talents in the league and is expected to have a long and successful career in the NBA.

Luka’s leadership is reinforced by his ability to make his teammates better and control the game’s flow to his liking. One of the areas that knocked him down in the pre-draft rankings was his athleticism. Teams feared he could not keep up with modern NBA players, given his larger frame.

Luka is aware of this thanks to his cerebral nature and adjusts his game accordingly. The Mavericks rank in the bottom third for pace, directly attributed to Luka’s pace. Typically, I’d be worried, as a slower pace results in a lack of statistics, but that is not the case this year. Per ESPN, Luka Doncic is the 1st player at age 23 or younger to average 40 points over a 10-game span since Michael Jordan in 1986. In addition, he is the 1st player to average 40 points, ten rebounds, and eight assists over a 10-game span in the history of the NBA. A part of this great span was a 60-point, 21 rebound, and ten assist game versus the Knicks back on December 27th. I encourage any of you to load up NBA 2k and replicate this in a video game.

This slow pace but high output puts Luka and the Mavericks in a position for costly turnovers. At the moment of this article, Luka is first in the league in turnovers. This should be no surprise, as he’s also first in usage percentage at 38.39%. This means that Luka has the ball in his hands 38.39% percent of all Mavericks possessions. The turnovers he commits are sometimes sloppy, but given the volume with which he handles the ball, it’s not surprising. However, the downfall to the high usage, high turnover, and slow pace is that your margin for error is even smaller.

Teams that force turnovers typically run on the fast break, scoring uncontested buckets in a hurry. Too many turnovers in a row can bury a team, especially in the playoffs. Luka doesn’t show the ability to “play fast,” as that’s not how the offense is set up in Dallas. They primarily focus on getting Luka the ball on either wing in a post-up, much like they did with Dirk Nowitzki back in the mid-2000s to 2010s. Being unable to speed the pace of the game up can lose you a series in the playoffs.

I mention all of this to get to his On/Off stats. This measures how a team performs with a specific player on and off the court. To no surprise, the Dallas Mavericks are a championship contender with him on the court (119 ORtg) and an average team with him off the court (106.9 ORtg). On top of that, Luka leads the league in win shares, providing the Mavs with 7.7 wins this year. Their currently 24-19 at the writing of this, meaning they would be 17-26 if he were not on the team. 

Luka Dončić is a rising star who has taken the NBA by storm. His talent and stats speak for themselves, and he’s quickly becoming one of the best players in the league.

Whether leading the Mavericks to victory or winning awards and accolades, Luka is a player you can’t take your eyes off. He’s got the skills, the charisma, and the drive to become a true legend in the world of basketball. So, grab your popcorn and get ready to watch Luka Dončić make history on the court because this Slovenian sensation is just getting started!