The Dallas Mavericks have one of the best international players ever on their roster in Dirk Nowitzki. He is one of the best scorers to ever play the game. His jump shot is almost impossible to guard with his 7’0 stature. Nowitzki got his coveted championship in 2011. He may have to pass the baton to a new international superstar to suit up for the Mavs. His name is Luka Doncic. Other big names in the rookie pool are Trae Young and DeAndre Ayton. Both players are doing well, but they are not having the type of complete season that Doncic is having so far. Doncic is having a Rookie of the year type of season for the Mavericks and he may just end up winning the award.

Luka Doncic Separating Himself From The 2018 Rookie Class

Doing Well in Games

Doncic doesn’t have one game this season where he scored less than double figures. Ayton has three and Young has five. In his last three games, he has played well. The Mavericks won all three games. After going 2-6 in the month of October the Mavericks are 8-3 in November. Against the Houston Rockets, Doncic had 20 points, six rebounds and two assists. Doncic shot 100 percent from the free throw line on five attempts. As for regular attempts, he shot 54.5 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from the three-point line.

Against the Boston Celtics, he had 15 points, eight assists and three steals. He shot 100 percent from the line on two attempts. His field goal percentage was 45.5 percent and 75.0 percent from the three-point line. Finally, against the Brooklyn Nets, he had 21 points, nine rebounds and four assists. The international star shot 45.5 percent from the field and 66.7 percent from the three-point line.

In his best game of the season against the San Antonio Spurs in a loss, he had 31 points, eight rebounds and four assists. He made 83.3 percent from the foul line on six attempts. As for regular attempts, he shot 61.1 percent from the field. Also, he shot 66.7 percent from the three-point line.

The consistency that Doncic has displayed is a testament to his drive and the hard work he puts in on every possession. After his time overseas he has been able to transition to the NBA game well.

Former Houston Rockets guard Aaron Jackson said:

“One thing that separates him from other players is how he competes,” Jackson said. “You see it during games or even if you’re just watching his film. He cares so much, to the point that literally every possession is big to him. He has that fire that you love to see in a competitor; it’s similar to Manu Ginobili.”

The Stats

Doncic is having a complete season from a rookie standpoint. He is averaging 18.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game this season. He is shooting 44.3 percent from the field and 38.2 percent from the three-point line. Also, he is shooting 79 percent from the foul line.

He has the ability to play 1-4 with his 6’7, 218 lbs stature. He is bigger than the guards he faces so he can muscle them with his dribble and shoot over them (from 10ft to less than 16ft only 23.5 percent of his shots are assisted (38 attempts) and from 16ft to less than the three-point line only 14.3 percent of his shots are assisted (16 attempts)) and he has the ability to drive past bigger opponents.

The stats that Doncic has displayed are consistent and they are complete. He has been able to show that he can score. Also, he can affect the game in other ways by rebounding and passing the ball by using his intangibles and pure talent.

Going Forward

While Nowitzki has not retired, the Mavericks are in good hands with the play of Doncic. He has the passion and drive to be great in the NBA.

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