In his first season in the NBA, the Slovenian Luka Doncic has far exceeded the expectations created around his figure after conquering Spain and Europe with Real Madrid and leading his team to win their first Eurobasket before reaching the age of 20.
His selection as Rookie of the Year thanks to his performances in the ranks of the Dallas Maverikcs has confirmed that, if he continues his progression, he is called to be one of the best European players in the history of the American League.
Only five years have passed since his debut with the Real Madrid subsidiary. He did it at 15, two years after arriving in the capital of Spain from his native Ljubljana (Slovenia), at the age of a cadet but with a junior record, which allowed him to play in the EBA (fourth division of the basketball Spanish).
The numbers in his first game (9 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and a PIR of 11 in 23 minutes) were astonishing, but it was not the first time. One year earlier, he appeared at the 2013 ‘Minicopa’, with an exhibition that allowed the Whites to proclaim themselves champion and that earned him the best player (MVP) award of the tournament.
In his five games with Real Madrid ‘B’ at EBA, the Slovenian cadet averaged 13.4 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and a PIR of 19.4. His rise was unstoppable.
It didn’t take long for him to make his official debut with the first team. It was on April 30, 2015, at a Real Madrid-Unicaja, becoming the third youngest player in the history of the ACB when he took to the court at 16 years and two months (only behind Ricky Rubio and Ángel Rebolo) . A triple as soon as he entered the field was his letter of introduction. ‘Wonderboy’ was born.
He finished the 2014-2015 season ready to join the Real Madrid first team after a course in which the white club conquered the ACB. In his first full season under Pablo Laso, he added another League and a Copa del Rey to his record.
But it would be in the third and last season in Spain in which he would put the finishing touch to his European adventure. He first made history with Slovenia by winning the gold medal in the Eurobasket 2017 – the first in the history of his team – and with Real Madrid he achieved another league title and his only Euroleague, being chosen MVP of both competitions.
His rapid evolution precipitated his arrival in the NBA. It was in Dallas where they welcomed him with open arms after the Atlanta Hawks (as happened with Pau Gasol in 2001 with Memphis as a destination) transferred their No. 3 pick in the 2018 draft to the Texas franchise.
And in his first year in the United States, he has confirmed that he was not wrong. His election as ‘Rookie’ of the year, in whose vote he obtained 98 of the hundred possible votes this Tuesday, beating players of the stature of Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks) or Deandre Ayton (Phoenix Suns).
After the Spanish Pau Gasol, Doncic has been the second European player to be chosen Rookie of the Year.
His choice was sung as, among other merits, he was elected ‘Rookie of the Month’ from his conference from beginning to end of the season, participated in the ‘All Star’ in the rookie team and became the second youngest player in achieving a triple-double in the NBA (he had eight in total).
In the Dallas team he has taken the banner of German Dirk Nowitzki, and has averaged 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 6 assists and 1.1 steals in 71 games, which earned him a new nickname in his career, ‘The Matador’.
This Slovenian Madridista at heart, who despite the distance has remained aware of Real Madrid and his former teammates and has encouraged them live in the final of the Spanish League, he only had to finish the year with his participation in the World Cup. China, for which Slovenia did not get the ticket.
His meteoric career has few milestones left to conquer. The NBA champion ring is one of his big dreams, although he has a whole life ahead of him for it. EFE