By George Efkarpidis/ GEfkarpidis@eurohoops.net
Despite leaving at a young age, Luka Doncic certainly left his mark on EuroLeague, has an All-Decade Team nomination to describe his stamp on Europe’s premier competition. Moved his talents to the NBA for the 2018-19 season, earned Rookie of the Year honors only to further improve from the start of his second season.
Following Sunday’s win against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center, Eurohoops took the Slovenian sensation on a ride back to EuroLeague. “I learned a lot in EuroLeague playing against amazing players,” he replied to a question on his European tenure, “It prepared me for the NBA.”
Doncic’s task is established, guide the Dallas Mavericks back to the playoffs. With 30.6 points, 9.9 rebounds and 9.6 rebounds per game so far, he seems up for the task, but still follows EuroLeague. “It’s going to be interesting,” he mentioned in the current season, “Any team can beat you.”
On the favorites for the 2020 Final Four set to take place in Cologne between 22 and 24 of May, the Slovenian star only picked his former team to advance to the final stage of the 2019-20 season. “For me, Real Madrid” he reckoned.
On Sunday, Doncic helped the Mavs send the Lakers and LeBron James back on the losing column. He remembered facing his idol for the first time, “Normally I am never nervous, but was for sure before that game.”
“It’s something special for me,” he added on LeBron, “Growing up, I used to watch him a lot. I admire him today too.”
Doncic on Eurohoops TV: