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Luka Dončić

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Luka Dončić
Dončić, with Real Madrid in 2017
No. 7 – Real Madrid
PositionPoint guard / Shooting guard
LeagueLiga ACB
EuroLeague
Personal information
Born (1999-02-28) February 28, 1999 (age 25)
Ljubljana, Slovenia
NationalitySlovenian
Listed height2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)
Listed weight103 kg (227 lb)
Career information
Playing career2015–present
Career history
2015–presentReal Madrid
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Slovenia
EuroBasket
Gold medal – first place 2017 Turkey National team

Luka Dončić (Template:IPA-sl; born February 28, 1999) is a Slovenian professional basketball player for Real Madrid of the Liga ACB and EuroLeague. He represents the senior Slovenian national team, having helped it win its first EuroBasket title in 2017. Listed as a 6-foot-8 (2.03 m), 228-pound (103 kg) guard, Dončić is considered one of the best international prospects of his generation and a projected top-three pick for the 2018 NBA draft.[1]

A native of Ljubljana, Dončić began his basketball career with the youth teams of Slovenian club Union Olimpija, joining at eight years of age. In 2012, he joined Real Madrid in Spain, eventually rising in profile on the reserve team. At age 16, in the 2014–15 season, Dončić debuted for Real Madrid in both the Liga ACB and EuroLeague, becoming the youngest player in club history to suit up in either competition. He found an increasing presence on the senior team in 2016–17, winning the EuroLeague Rising Star and ACB Best Young Player Award.

In the 2017–18 season, Dončić assumed a leading role for Real Madrid, replacing its injured star player Sergio Llull for much of the season. Guiding his team to the 2018 EuroLeague title at age 19, he became the youngest recipient of the EuroLeague MVP and EuroLeague Final Four MVP awards. He was also the youngest player to ever be named ACB Most Valuable Player. In addition, Dončić earned EuroLeague Rising Star and ACB Best Young Player accolades.

Early life and career

Dončić was born in Ljubljana, Slovenia, to Saša Dončić, a former professional basketball player and coach with experience in the Slovenian League, and Mirjam Poterbin, a hairdresser, former model and dancer, and owner of a prestigious beauty salon in Ljubljana's inner circle.[2][3][4][5][6] His father is a Slovenian of Serbian descent, with his family originating from the village of Biča, near Klina.[5][6]

According to his family, Dončić first touched a basketball when he was seven months old, and at age seven, he began playing organized basketball at primary school in Ljubljana.[7][8] When he was eight years old, his father started playing for Slovenian club Union Olimpija, and Luka began training in the club's youth sections.[9] He was initially expected to practice with players his age, but only 16 minutes into his first training session, he was moved to the 11-year-old group. Beginning in the following session, he primarily practiced with the Olimpija under-14 team, but due to league rules, he only played for the club's selection team, with whom he still faced opponents up to four years older than him.[7]

Dončić after a game with Real Madrid's youth team in May 2014.

Representing Olimpija at the under-14 Vasas Intesa Sanpaolo Cup in Budapest in September 2011, Dončić was named most valuable player (MVP) despite finishing as runners-up FC Barcelona Regal.[10] He was loaned to Real Madrid in February 2012 for the Spanish MiniCopa.[11][12] Dončić, who was among the youngest players on his team, averaged 13.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 3.3 steals per game to win tournament most outstanding player honors, leading Real Madrid to a second-place finish.[12] In April 2012, he took part in the under-13 Lido di Roma Tournament for Olimpija, finishing as MVP and leading scorer with 34.5 points per game. In the semifinal round of the event against Victoria Fermo, he posted 29 points and 15 rebounds, and in a championship game win over Lazio, he erupted for 54 points.[13]

In September 2012, at 13 years of age, Dončić signed a five-year contract with the Spanish club Real Madrid.[14] After outstanding performances in his seasons in the Real Madrid under-16 team, Dončić played for the club's under-18 team and reserve team during the 2014–15 season. He became one of the leaders of the club's reserve team, averaging 14.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game, and he helped his team to get the first position of the 2014–15 Liga EBA season's Group B, in the amateur level Spanish 4th division.

In 2015, he won the Under-18 Ciutat de L'Hospitalet Tournament, and was selected to the All-Tournament Team, despite being two years younger than the rest of the team.[15] In May 2015, he also won the Under-18 Next Generation Tournament, where he was selected MVP, after he helped his team beat defending champion Red Star Belgrade, in the final.[16]

Professional career

Real Madrid (2015–present)

2015–16 season

On April 30, 2015, Dončić became the youngest player to debut with Real Madrid in the Liga ACB (the top-tier Spanish League), at the age of 16 years, 2 months, and 2 days. He scored a three-pointer in Real Madrid's 2014–15 season win against Unicaja. In the history of the Liga ACB competition, he is the third-youngest player to make his debut, behind Ricky Rubio (who was 14 years and 11 months of age when he debuted), and Ángel Rebolo (who was 15 years and 3 months of age when he debuted).[17] Dončić also participated in the 2015 ACB Playoffs, and the 2015 FIBA Intercontinental Cup.

In the 2015–16 season, Dončić became a part of the main 12-man roster of Real Madrid in every competition, including the 2015–16 ACB season (being the youngest player of the league),[18] and the EuroLeague 2015–16 season. He made his debut in the European-wide top-tier level, the EuroLeague, on 16 October 2015, at the age of 16, in a road loss against Khimki. Making him the eleventh-youngest player to make their debut in the EuroLeague since the 2000–01 season. Dončić scored 2 points in the game.[19] In week 8 of the Liga ACB, against Bilbao Basket, he set his personal best in the Spanish League in: points scored (15), rebounds (6), assists (4), and PIR (22), also setting the records in scoring and PIR for a player under age 17, in the history of the Liga ACB.[20]

2016–17 season

Dončić with Real Madrid in December 2016.

During the 2016–17 season, Dončić got a place in the rotation of Real Madrid, and was also an occasional starter. Dončić was named player of the week in the Liga ACB, for the first time, in the round 11 of the 2016–17 season, after scoring 23 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, for a PIR of 34,[21] in the win of Real Madrid against Montakit Fuenlabrada, by a score of 92–76. In Round 13 of the 2016–17 EuroLeague, Dončić won his first EuroLeague MVP of the Round award, after scoring 16 points, to go along with 6 rebounds and 5 assists, for a PIR of 25, in a win over Brose Bamberg.[22] After winning three more EuroLeague MVP of the Round awards, Dončić won the EuroLeague Rising Star award, by a unanimous vote.[23] On February 17, 2017, it was announced Dončić had signed with agent Bill Duffy of BDA Sports.[24]

2017–18 season

During the month of October, Dončić was named the EuroLeague MVP of the Month for the performances he put up that month, most notably in Rounds 3 and 4, where he won back-to-back EuroLeague MVP of the Round honors, with leading PIR scores in wins over AX Armani Exchange Olimpia Milan and Žalgiris Kaunas, respectively. On December 8, 2017, Dončić recorded a career-high 33 points, in Real Madrid's EuroLeague match against Olympiacos Piraeus, with Real Madrid losing 92–83 in overtime, that night. On 1 January 2018, the Spanish Liga ACB named Dončić their Player of the Month, of December 2017, thus making Dončić the youngest player to win the award, at an age of 18 years and 10 months old.[25] On 30 March 2018, a day after Dončić hit a game-winning buzzer-beating three-pointer in an 82–79 win over Red Star Belgrade, his mother confirmed that he would declare for the 2018 NBA draft, but that he might not be at the event himself, due to the Spanish Liga ACB's playoffs coinciding with the event.[26] In any case, he has stated that will wait until after the EuroLeague competition is complete before deciding on his future.

On 8 May 2018, Dončić repeated himself as the winner of the EuroLeague Rising Star award, joining Nikola Mirotić and Bogdan Bogdanović as the only repeat winners of the award.[27] A day later, he recorded his first Liga ACB triple-double with 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assist against Real Betis Energía Plus in 22 minutes of playing time. With that achievement he has become the youngest player to record a triple-double in the competition.[28] Another day later, he was named a member of the All-EuroLeague First Team, being one of the youngest players in league history to earn such an honor. On May 18, Dončić recorded 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists in a 92–83 over the PBC CSKA Moscow in the EuroLeague Semifinals.[29] Real Madrid would go on to defeat defending champions Fenerbahçe Doğuş in the final game by 85-80, thus winning the championship and 10th EuroLeague title in club's history.[30] Dončić was named the EuroLeague Final Four MVP after recording 15 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists to go alongside his stats recorded against CSKA Moscow.[31] Over 33 EuroLeague games, Dončić averaged career-high 16 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. He was also named the 2018 EuroLeague MVP (also recording the highest PIR of the entire season), thus being the youngest winner of the award in the process.[32]

On 22 May 2018, he was named a member of the All-Liga ACB Team. A day later, Dončić was given the ACB Best Young Player Award once again for being the best player in the league that's under the age of 22, as well as earn his third straight spot on the All-ACB Best Young Players Team. The next day, he was named the Liga ACB MVP of the season, as well as a member of the All-Liga ACB Team.[33]

He is currently projected to be selected either #1 or #2 in the 2018 NBA Draft on June 21, 2018.[34]

International career

Dončić, during EuroBasket 2017.

Junior national team

Dončić was set to play at the 2014 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship's second level B tournament, with Slovenia's Under-16 junior national team, but he had to withdraw from the tournament, due to an injury. In December 2014, he played with the Slovenian Under-16 junior team, in a friendly game tournament in Hungary. Dončić averaged 35.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, while shooting 81% from two-point field goal range, and 57% on three-pointers.[15]

Senior national team

On September 22, 2016, Dončić announced that he would represent the senior men's Slovenian national team for the rest of his career.[35] He had previously been linked by the sports media with a number of other national teams, including Montenegro, Serbia, and Spain.[36] At the end of July 2017, Dončić debuted with the senior Slovenian national basketball team, in a game against Russia's Under-22 junior national team. In that game, he had 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists, in 14 minutes of playing time.

Dončić was a member of the Slovenian squad for EuroBasket 2017, where his country won its first gold medal, after going undefeated (9–0) in the tournament.[37] In Slovenia's quarterfinal 103–97 win over Latvia, he scored 27 points, while also recording 9 rebounds.[38] He recorded 11 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists, in the 92–72 semi-final win over Spain.[39] In the final, which Slovenia won by a score of 93–85 over Serbia, he had 8 points and 7 rebounds, before falling out of the game, due to an injury, in the game's third quarter.[40] Dončić was also named to the competition's All-Tournament Team, joining teammate and EuroBasket MVP Goran Dragić.[41]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  PIR  Performance Index Rating
 Bold  Career high
† Denotes season in which Dončić' team won the EuroLeague
Led the league

EuroLeague

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG PIR
2015–16 Real Madrid 12 0 11.1 .407 .313 .882 2.3 2.0 .2 .3 3.5 6.2
2016–17 Real Madrid 35 15 19.9 .433 .371 .844 4.5 4.2 .9 .2 7.8 13.3
2017–18† Real Madrid 33 17 25.9 .451 .329 .816 4.8 4.3 1.1 .3 16.0 21.5
Career 80 32 21.0 .443 .344 .828 4.3 3.9 .9 .3 10.6 15.6

Liga ACB

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG PIR
2014–15 Real Madrid 5 0 4.8 .333 .333 .750 1.2 .0 .0 .0 1.6 1.8
2015–16 Real Madrid 39 0 12.9 .526 .392 .708 2.6 1.7 .4 .3 4.5 5.9
2016–17 Real Madrid 42 11 19.8 .441 .295 .785 4.4 3.0 .6 .3 7.5 11.9
2017–18 Real Madrid 24 12 24.0 .458 .285 .791 5.7 5.0 1.0 .3 12.8 18.5
Career 110 23 17.6 .463 .313 .770 3.9 2.8 .6 .3 7.3 10.8

Player profile

In his early basketball career, Dončić has been able to easily compete against players that are older than him. His combination of skills, athleticism, basketball intelligence, and competitiveness are hard to find. He brings unique versatility, as he can dribble with both hands, rebound, shoot with range, pass, or score, in a variety of ways. He can play both as a point guard, and as a guard-forward (swingman).[1] His primary position is guard-forward, being utilized as a point forward on offense.

Trophies and awards

Youth levels

Real Madrid

  • 2013 Under–14 Ciutat de l’Hospitalet Tournament: Champion
  • 2013 Under–14 Minicopa ACB of Vitoria-Gasteiz: Winner
  • 2013 Under–14 Spain Championship: Champion
  • 2014 Under–18 Madrid Junior Championship: Champion
  • 2015 Under–18 Madrid Junior Championship: Champion
  • 2015 Under–18 Ciutat De L'Hospitalet Tournament (ANGT): Champion
  • 2015 Under–18 Spain Championship: Champion
  • 2015 Under–18 Euroleague Basketball Next Generation Tournament: Champion

Individual awards

  • 2012 U–13 Lido di Roma Tournament with Olimpija Ljubljana: MVP
  • 2013 U–14 Ciutat de l’Hospitalet Tournament: MVP
  • 2013 U–14 Minicopa ACB of Vitoria-Gasteiz: MVP
  • 2013 U–16 Budapest International Tournament: MVP
  • 2013 U–16 Villa de la Laguna Tournament: MVP[42]
  • 2013 U–16 EA7 Emporio Armani Tournament: MVP
  • 2014 U–16 Spain Championship: MVP[43]
  • 2015 U–18 Ciutat De L'Hospitalet Tournament (ANGT): All-Tournament Team
  • 2015 U-18 Madrid Junior Championship: MVP
  • 2015 U–18 Spain Championship: MVP
  • 2015 U–18 Euroleague Basketball Next Generation Tournament: MVP

Senior level

Real Madrid

Individual awards

Slovenian national team

Personal life

Dončić's parents filed for divorce in 2008, with custody and legal guardianship being granted to his mother.[2][4][3] His godfather is former NBA player Rašo Nesterović.[7] Dončić is a fan of the Red Star Belgrade basketball club.[44][45] Greek professional basketball player Vassilis Spanoulis was Dončić's idol when he was young.[46][47]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Luka Dončić at Eurohopes
  2. ^ a b Jurij Završnik (25 December 2015). "Španski potni list?" [Spanish passport?] (in Slovenian). Ekipa. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Nuša Šenk zmešala košarkarja Saša Dončiča" [Nusa Senk captivated basketball player Sasa Doncic] (in Slovenian). lifestyle.enaa.com. 18 September 2008. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  4. ^ a b Drako Perko (9 January 2015). "Luka Dončić po poti Gorana Dragića in Raša Nesterovića" [Luka Doncic on track towards Goran Dragic and Rasho Nesterovic] (in Slovenian). kosarka.si. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  5. ^ a b NĐ (10 March 2017). "Dončić: Luka Zvezdaš? Nasledio je to od mene" [Doncic: Luka a fan of Crvena Zvezda? He inherited that from me] (in Serbian). B92. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  6. ^ a b "Srbski Blic izziva Slovence: Brez Srbov ne bi imeli medalje: Dragić, Dončić, Kokoškov..." [Serbian Blic is taunting Slovenes: Without Serbs you would not have a medal: Dragić, Dončić, Kokoškov...] (in Slovenian). Reporter. 17 September 2017. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  7. ^ a b c Schmitz, Mike (September 18, 2017). "There's never been an NBA draft prospect like Luka Doncic". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 18, 2017. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ West, Andy (October 11, 2017). "Conversation with Luka Doncic: 'I was born to play basketball'". EuroLeague. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  9. ^ Davis, Scott (September 19, 2017). "Potential No. 1 NBA draft pick was so good at age 8 that coaches moved him up an age group after watching him play for 16 minutes". Business Insider. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  10. ^ "Barcelona wins in Hungary; Doncic MVP". EuroHopes. September 27, 2011. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  11. ^ Duque, Nacho (February 8, 2013). "Luka Doncic, la perla que hace soñar al Madrid". Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  12. ^ a b Alcaraz, Ruben (February 23, 2012). "Doncic, new millenium is close". EuroHopes. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  13. ^ "Doncic, now in Rome (54)". EuroHopes. April 11, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  14. ^ "Doncic, el prodigio de 13 años del Madrid" (in Spanish). Marca.com.
  15. ^ a b "Slovenian Luka Doncic already a big name at just 16". FIBA. 23 April 2015.
  16. ^ "Real Madrid's young star Doncic named ANGT MVP". AdidasNGT.
  17. ^ "Doncic, youngest player to make debut for Real Madrid". Real Madrid.
  18. ^ "Doncic, youngest player in the league". El Mundo.
  19. ^ 2015-16 Regular Season Round 1 KHIMKI MOSCOW REGION 84 REAL MADRID 70 OCTOBER 16, 2015.
  20. ^ "Doncic shined". Eurohoops.
  21. ^ "Luka Doncic, Jugador de la Jornada 11" (in Spanish). ACB.com. 4 December 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  22. ^ "Round 13 Co-MVPs: Luka Doncic and Mike James". EuroLeague. 22 December 2016.
  23. ^ "Rising Star Trophy: Madrid's Doncic is unanimous winner". Euroleague.net. 10 May 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  24. ^ https://twitter.com/thesteinline/status/832654903994568706
  25. ^ "Luka Doncic, MVP Movistar de Diciembre". www.acb.com (in Spanish). 1 January 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  26. ^ NBALuka Doncic’s mother says her son will declare for NBA Draft./
  27. ^ "2017-18 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Rising Star: Luka Doncic, Real Madrid". Euroleague.net. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  28. ^ Stroggylakis, Antonis (9 May 2018). "Luka Doncic notches first career triple-double". Eurohoops.
  29. ^ https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2018/5/18/17369976/luka-doncic-stats-euroleague-final-four-pick-draft
  30. ^ "Real Madrid is 2018 EuroLeague champion". euroleague.net. 20 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  31. ^ "Doncic chosen Final Four MVP". euroleague.net. 20 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  32. ^ "2017-18 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague MVP: Luka Doncic, Real Madrid". EuroLeague. 19 May 2018.
  33. ^ "Luka Doncic, MVP Movistar de la Liga Endesa 2017-18". ACB.com (in Spanish). 24 May 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  34. ^ "Consensus Mock Draft: Will Suns go with Deandre Ayton or Luka Doncic at No. 1?". NBA.com. 23 May 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  35. ^ "LUKA DONČIĆ: "Hvala Španiji, Slovenija je moja izbira!"". kosarka.si (in Slovenian). 22 September 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  36. ^ T. J. (30 January 2017). "Dončić: Na evropskem prvenstvu gremo po medaljo" [Doncic: At the Eurobasket we are aiming for a medal] (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  37. ^ "Slovenia overcome injuries to claim historic title in Dragic's swansong". FIBA.basketball. 2017-09-17. Retrieved 2017-09-19.
  38. ^ "Slovenia v Latvia". FIBA.basketball. 2017-09-12.
  39. ^ "Spain v Slovenia". FIBA.basketball. 2017-09-14.
  40. ^ "Slovenia v Serbia". FIBA.basketball. 2017-09-19.
  41. ^ "Title hero Dragic caps off fairy tale finish with MVP honors". FIBA.basketball. 2017-09-17.
  42. ^ acb.com Luka Doncic sigue deslumbrando
  43. ^ solobasket.com CE Cadete 2014
  44. ^ B. O. (13 April 2017). "Pozdrav iz Madrida: Zvezdi na tituli čestitali i košarkaši Reala" [Greetings from Madrid: Zvezda congratulated for the title by Real basketball players] (in Serbian). lifestyle.enaa.com. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  45. ^ "Igra za Real, voli Zvezdu!". mondo.rs (in Serbian). 26 November 2015. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  46. ^ Doncic: “I got enchanted by Spanoulis”.
  47. ^ Los orígenes de @luka7doncic. #Minuto0 Template:Es icon.
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