Dončić’s NBA decision coming ‘soon’ after Euroleague title

Dončić’s NBA decision coming ‘soon’ after Euroleague title

Luka Dončić declined to make a definitive decision about joining the NBA next season.

Luka Dončić is among the basketball world’s brightest young prospects. (Reuters pic)
BELGRADE:
Top NBA prospect Luka Dončić led Real Madrid over defending Euroleague champions Fenerbahçe 85-80 to claim the league title on Sunday in Belgrade, Serbia, earning Final Four MVP honours in the process.

Attention quickly turned to whether or not Dončić will leave Spain to join the NBA next season.

“I will tell about all at the right time,” Dončić, who scored 15 points on eight field-goal attempts in the win, told ESPN after the game. “Right now, I just want to celebrate with my team. Soon, I will tell.”

The 19-year-old Slovenian told Eurohoops.net last week that he was not yet sure about his NBA plans, saying, “We have yet to make this decision. Perhaps after the season.”

Dončić has until June 11 to withdraw from the NBA draft, which will be held June 21 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

The 2.03-metre (6-foot-8-inch) combo guard is widely considered a top-five prospect and a possible contender to go first overall to the Phoenix Suns, who won last week’s lottery. Newly-hired Suns head coach Igor Kokoškov coached Dončić and the Slovenian national team last year as they won the first EuroBasket in the country’s history.

The Suns are also expected to consider Arizona centre DeAndre Ayton and Duke forward Marvin Bagley III, among others, and general manager Ryan McDonough said earlier this week he is open to a trade.

If Dončić doesn’t go first overall, ESPN reports the “growing consensus among NBA decision-makers” at Sunday’s championship game is that the Sacramento Kings (picking second) and the Atlanta Hawks (third) would pass on the Slovenian for an American talent, making it possible Dončić could be available to the Memphis Grizzlies at #4 or Dallas Mavericks at #5.

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