Luka Doncic would’ve picked Arizona for a U.S. college if he attended college in the United States. Doncic, 25, is one of the best players in the NBA after being drafted with the third overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks in 2018. The Hawks traded him to the Dallas Mavericks, a move then-Head Coach Rick Carlisle initially thought could backfire. Doncic later became the face of the franchise.
But, unlike most players, Doncic didn’t attend a U.S. college before declaring for the NBA Draft. Doncic’s journey to the NBA consisted of three years with Real Madrid in Madrid, Spain, from 2015-2018. Doncic has been achieving success on and off the court as a former Real Madrid player. Doncic’s greatness is undeniable, and his pick of Arizona was surprising but easy to understand. Read on for further details surrounding his pick.
Luka Doncic’s College Pick
Dallas Mavericks star Point Guard Luka Doncic has been a force to be reckoned with since the 2018 NBA Draft. Doncic bypassed a college basketball career as he succeeded as a member of Real Madrid, where he showcased his elite talent. He won the EuroLeague championship and MVP in 2018.
In a recent video posted by Overtime, Doncic was asked which college he would’ve picked had he gone the traditional college basketball route. Without hesitation, the Ljubljana, Slovenia, native said, “Arizona. They say it’s good there.”
Doncic’s answer was short and sweet, which was perfectly understandable. He isn’t a native English speaker and his personal life is fairly private, which could be attributed to his Eastern European roots, as some, if not most, Eastern Europeans are private and cold.
Doncic’s Potential College Career
Former Real Madrid player Luka Doncic’s potential college career would’ve been red-hot had he played for Arizona. Doncic would’ve formed a dynamic duo with Deandre Ayton, who was selected with the first overall pick by the Phoenix Suns in the same draft class back in 2018.
Ayton, 26, is from Nassau, Bahamas. He attended Balboa High School in San Diego, California, and Hillcrest Prep Academy in Phoenix, Arizona, and then Arizona in Tuscon, Ariz., from 2017 to 2018. Ayton’s college career was short-lived, as he played just one season in Tuscon and then-head coach Sean Miller allegedly talked to Christian Dawkins, one of the individuals involved in the 2017-18 NCAA Division I men’s basketball corruption scandal, about paying Ayton $100,000 and allowing him to enter Arizona.
Dirk Nowitzki Encourages Luka Doncic
Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki recently appeared on the “DLLS Mavs Podcast” and shared some words of encouragement for Mavericks star Luka Doncic, who’s coming off a tough, five game loss to the Boston Celtics in the 2024 NBA Finals.
According to Bolavip, Nowitzki said, “Well, just keep doing what you’re doing. Play your game … I know it wasn’t the ending you were hoping for, but you’re just getting started — you’re only 25. Sometimes a little disappointment can push you to come back stronger, motivate you to work harder, and become an even better player, if that’s even possible.” Nowitzki’s words of encouragement were reassuring and upbeat, which was necessary in this situation. Doncic could use a pick-me-up after a tough loss on the national stage.
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