Slovenian Luka Doncic was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the third overall pick of the 2018 NBA Draft in New York in the early hours of Friday morning.
Doncic’s rights though have been traded to the Dallas Mavericks, meaning that Doncic will be playing alongside German Dirk Nowitzki next season.
“This kid has won everything there is to win in European and international basketball and he’s done it at an age that’s unprecedented,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. “I’m not sure what position he is. I think his position is on the floor, making plays and making people better.”
Welcome my man @luka7doncic
— Dirk Nowitzki (@swish41) June 22, 2018
Doncic has confirmed that he will play in the upcoming NBA campaign after a landmark career season that saw the 19-year-old win Eurobasket with Slovenia before going on to win the EuroLeague and Liga Endesa with Real Madrid.
The accolades did not stop there with Doncic winning the EuroLeague regular season and Final Four MVP as well as the Rising Star award. He also won the ACB MVP and was named into the All-Tournament team at Eurobasket, alongside international team-mate Goran Dragic.
Doncic averaged 22.6 points, 4.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds a game in the EuroLeague last season, all career-highs.
As expected the Phoenix Suns selected Deandre Ayton from Arizona with the first overall pick. Sacramento Kings chose Marvin Bagley III with the second pick.
