2018 NBA Prospect Report Part 4: Luka Doncic

Athleticism and Defense

The concerns over Doncic’s physical ability have merit but have also been overblown among many NBA fans due to misconceptions about European competition levels and stereotypes about European prospects.

Marvin Bagley III, who many assume can project as an NBA center for significant portions of his playing time, has the same reported standing reach as Doncic. There is also not a significant difference between the two in terms of defensive instincts and explosion off two feet in space.

Doncic’s unimpressive first step burst in the halfcourt belies his ability to get up off two feet, which he flashes from time-to-time throwing down highlight reel dunks.

Becoming a super effective shot blocker on weakside rotations is not currently within his range of likely NBA outcomes. But the athletic difference between him and some other NCAA prospects is not as wide as some would have you believe.

That said, there is some validity to the athleticism concerns, and they show up on both ends of the floor.

Here, Doncic’s poor lateral quickness is exposed defending a Serbian ball handler — Vasilije Micic — out of the pick-and-roll.

He also struggles to navigate screens, frequently running straight into big men and taking hard hits. On the bright side, he rarely gives up on defensive plays even when he gets bodied, remaining active as a helper and engaged off the ball.

On this play, he gets hung up significantly, but is still able to recover, help, close out and show off his light feet defending the ball. Plays like these make it hard to believe his shortcomings will be impossible to overcome either individually or on a team level. If not by his sheer effort and feel, then by his positional versatility.

While notorious defensive liabilities in the NBA like Isaiah Thomas or Russell Westbrook or prospects like Trae Young can be hidden only on one or two positions, Doncic can slide around four positions depending on whichever is the weakest offensive player.

His strength, height and effort will make it difficult for weak offensive fours to post him up. His light feet and solid instincts will make it hard for weak offensive guards and wings to repeatedly attack him for efficient shots. He is easier to hide and trickier to exploit than players confined to one or two positions.

He probably will not be a plus defender at the next level. But there is a myriad of reasons why he and his NBA team will be able to work around his deficiencies.