Luka Doncic reacts after being drafted third overall by the Atlanta Hawks during the 2018 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 21, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Mike Stobe/Getty Images/AFP
DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks are going Euro with their rebuild, the same way they did 20 years ago with Dirk Nowitzki.
Dallas moved up two spots in the NBA draft Thursday night to get Slovenian guard Luka Doncic, who was selected by Atlanta at No. 3 while the Mavericks picked former Oklahoma scoring sensation Trae Young for the Hawks at No. 5 as part of the deal. The Mavericks are also sending a lottery-protected first-round pick in 2019 to Atlanta.
The Mavericks are coming off consecutive losing seasons for the first time in nearly 20 years, back when Nowitzki ended up being the centerpiece of a rebuilding project that led to 12 straight trips to the playoffs and the franchise’s only championship in 2011. The big German is the highest-scoring foreign-born player in NBA history and one of seven overall with at least 30,000 points. The Mavericks acquired Nowitzki during the 1998 draft, trading down to get the 7-footer who was taken ninth overall by Milwaukee.
Doncic will be his teammate, with Nowitzki expected to become the first player in league history to spend all 21 seasons with the same franchise. Nowitzki, who was in the draft room with the Mavericks, quickly greeted his fellow European on Twitter.
The 19-year-old Doncic is a skilled prospect with polished ability to score or run the offense as an adept passer. He has shown the ability to knock down outside shots with deep range and a step-back move.
At 6-foot-7 and 220 pounds, Doncic helped Real Madrid win a EuroLeague championship while averaging about 15 points, five rebounds and five assists. As with Nowitzki 20 years ago, the question is how Doncic’s game will translate to the NBA.
“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,” 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.”
Doncic signed with Real Madrid at age 13 and made his debut as a 16-year-old. He teamed with Miami’s Goran Dragic to lead Slovenia to the gold medal at FIBA EuroBasket 2017. His father, Sasa Doncic, played professionally for 15 years.
The Mavericks made the move for Doncic a year after drafting point guard Dennis Smith Jr. with the ninth overall pick, giving Dallas a chance to have one of the NBA’s youngest backcourts depending on where Doncic lands in the rotation.
“He’s the kind of player that is going to be able to play with virtually anybody,” Carlisle said. “He just has the skill set and an understanding and a feel for the game. He’s a great shooter, so he creates space for other players, which is really going to help Dennis.”
The Mavericks were set for two picks in the second round, at 33rd and 54th overall.