Luka Dončić

[eddiehaskell]

Originally Posted by TheCityTheBridge

Rookies are rookies. Doncic turns 20 in less than a month. Evens turned 20 in September (a month before his rookie year started, making him 5 months older as a rookie). Lillard turned 20 in July before his rookie year. Cousins turned 20 in August before his rookie year, and CP3 in May. Dismissing a bunch of rookies because they were not 19 doesn't make sense. Every rookie is facing a totally new level of competition than anything they have seen before. Like all rookies, Doncic has a full career ahead. Like all rookies, he has to develop his game. Yes, he has talent. No, he is not a certain top 10 player or all-timer.



Harden built steadily and made a big jump in '14-15 to become a top-of-the-league talent--his 6th season. In reaching that point, Harden got stronger, he developed his step back and his one-arm pass. He became deadly at drawing contact on the drive. And he got better at maximizing his teammates.



Treating a rookie like a hall of famer 40 games in is absurd. I've watched Doncic play--and seen the effects of fatigue. His coach does not keep him in for extended minutes, sticking close to 32 most nights. His career high in minutes is 39 in an OT game. LBJ as a rookie routinely played 40+ minutes. It is absurd to compare their per 36 numbers when only one of the two could routinely play 36+ minutes.

Incorrect. Rookies aren’t just rookies. Any GM or scout will tell you the same. Why do you think highly talented POY college seniors are usually drafted way behind 18 or 19 year olds? It’s called potential.

Yes, Donic will be 20 soon BUT he’s already played well over half an NBA regular season...where he put up numbers that only a handful of 19 year olds have ever put up.

And why are you still harping on his supposed fatigue? 32 minutes per game is like 1-2 less than most superstars are expected/wanted to play. Dirk had a pretty fulfilling career in which he averaged 34 mpg. Kawhi Leonard is a pretty decent player that has a career average of 30.8 mpg. Wade 32 mpg. Curry 34 mpg. Paul George 33.6 mpg. Your point? 30+ mpg is fine.

You’re looking for something to analyze.

BTW - in Luka’s last game he played 34 minutes and put up 34/8/8 in a win. And who knew the Mavs would be 4 games below .500 with a 19 year old rookie being #1 in scoring, #2 in assist (0.3 apg behind Barea), #2 in minutes (0.3 mpg behind Barnes) and #2 in rebounds. The Mavs seem to have found a likely replacement for their HOFer Dirk.

[eddiehaskell]

Originally Posted by travis t

Doncic is averaging 32 minutes/game. That is actually higher than I would like to see for a 19 year old rookie. Jayson Tatum, probably last year's best rookie, averaged 30.5. Going higher than that is just asking for injury. If you look at top 20 minutes leaders from last year, I think #20 is only about 34 minutes/game.

To me it's just common sense to limit minutes for any NBA rookie, whose body is not yet accustomed to 82 games, for that matter whose body is not even fully matured yet.

Bingo. Just about all teams would like to have their best players playing 30-35 mpg. Rookies often need a season to bring their conditioning up to NBA standards...with Luka playing 32 mpg, I see no reason for alarm. If he is having trouble playing 20 minutes than we might have something to talk about.

[TroutDude]

He's a stud. If he stays healthy and continues to grow his game, he could be an all-timer.