Daily Knicks
Fansided

2018 NBA Mock Draft: A full first round for All-Star Weekend

By Maxwell Ogden

LUBBOCK, TX - FEBRUARY 13: Trae Young #11 of the Oklahoma Sooners stands on the court during the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on February 13, 2018 at United Supermarket Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Oklahoma 88-78. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - FEBRUARY 13: Trae Young #11 of the Oklahoma Sooners stands on the court during the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on February 13, 2018 at United Supermarket Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Oklahoma 88-78. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 31
Next
MADRID, SPAIN – JANUARY 25: Luka Doncic, #7 guard of Real Madrid during the 2017/2018 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Regular Season Round 20 game between Real Madrid v Anadolu Efes Istanbul at Wizink Arena on January 25, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Sonia Canada/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – JANUARY 25: Luka Doncic, #7 guard of Real Madrid during the 2017/2018 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Regular Season Round 20 game between Real Madrid v Anadolu Efes Istanbul at Wizink Arena on January 25, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Sonia Canada/Getty Images) /

Guard/Forward. Real Madrid. Luka Doncic. 2. player. 125.

Age: 18 (2/28/1999)
Height & Weight: 6’8 & 219 pounds
Slash Line (Liga ACB & EuroLeague): .475/.323/.815
Season Averages (Liga ACB & EuroLeague): 25.0 MPG, 5.5 RPG, 4.5 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.6 3PM

The Atlanta Hawks have a promising point guard in Dennis Schröder and an explosive young power forward in John Collins. True as that may be, it would be difficult to label any player on the Hawks as a truly solidified member of the team’s long-term plans.

Thankfully, the best player available is the prospect who would fit perfectly with the combination of Schröder and Collins: Real Madrid star Luka Doncic.

Hawks head coach Mike Budenholer is no stranger to coaching European players. He was a longtime member of Gregg Popovich’s coaching staff, which implies that his experience with the likes of Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker could help him make Doncic’s transition to the NBA easier to overcome.

As for what transpires on the court, Doncic could be the phenomenal talent who gives Atlanta a genuine franchise player for the first time since Joe Johnson—if not longer.

Doncic is a 6’8” perimeter player who can consistently play both backcourt positions and, in a pinch, move to small forward. He has deep range on his jump shot, is a fearless facilitator, rebounds at an elite level, and has the skill and craftiness to overcome his somewhat limited athleticism.

if the New York Knicks have a chance to select Luka Doncic at the 2018 NBA Draft, you can comfortably assume they will. Doncic could be special.

Home/Knicks Draft