Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young knows very well how and why Dallas Mavericks phenom Luka Doncic was able to make an immediate impact for the Mavs in just his first two years in the NBA.
Speaking on All The Smoke podcast with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, Young called Doncic a “super smart” player. In his opinion, Doncic didn't have trouble adjusting to the NBA because he's been playing with professional ballers since he was a kid.
“He's just a super smart player. I think him playing overseas, playing against grown men his whole life, I mean that really prepared him to come over and make an immediate impact in the NBA at such a young age. It's good to see. He's a super smart player,” Young said of the Mavs star.
Young's observation has been echoed by various analysts. Doncic turned pro when he was just 16 years old, playing for Real Madrid in the EuroLeague. At 17 years old, he was crowned MVP, making him the youngest recipient of the award in EuroLeague history. He also led the team to the 2018 EuroLeague title.
Young and Doncic have been linked since the two entered the NBA in 2018. To recall, Doncic was selected by the Hawks as their third overall pick, but the Mavs traded for him in exchange for Young, who was selected fifth overall.
Initially, fans and analysts slammed the Hawks for agreeing to the trade. Right from the get-go, Luka Doncic was evidently the best player in the 2018 Draft Class. However, as the 2018-19 season progressed, Trae Young showcased his talent as well.
Now, both Doncic and Young are considered two of the best players in their batch, having been selected into their first All-Star game in 2020.
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