Luka Doncic, potential top-3 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, was named Euroleague MVP and Rising Star yesterday in Belgrade. Doncic became the youngest MVP in Turkish Airlines Euroleague history at 19 years old. The Slovenian kid, just in his third season as a pro, has lead Real Madrid to today’s final against Turkish side Fenerbahce.
Luka Doncic is the Mvp of the EuroLeague Season pic.twitter.com/cVo4UY2nPM
— Sportando (@Sportando) May 19, 2018
Much more than just a scorer, Doncic ranked second among all EuroLeague players in fouls drawn (5.8), ninth in defensive rebounds (4.1), 11th in steals (1.1) and 13th in assists (4.3) while leading Madrid in minutes played (25:51). Earlier this month, EuroLeague head coaches made him the Rising Star Trophy winner for a second straight year, while fans and media voted him to the All-EuroLeague First Team, the first teenager so honored. After a season in which he inspired superlatives from start to finish, the so-called Boy Wonder has now added the biggest individual award, that of EuroLeague MVP, even as he keeps battling to get biggest team prize of them all for the first time – the EuroLeague champions trophy.
Despite still showing some doubts about leaving Real Madrid after this season, many league executives wouldn’t have doubts in drafting him. With this award, Doncic adds another accomplishment to an amazing season, started last summer with the victory of his Slovenia in FIBA European Championship. Today he’ll have the chance to win the Euroleague title after being eliminated in the semi-final last season.
Doncic follows Llull to give Madrid the first back-to-back MVPs from the same team since Theodoros Papaloukas and Ramunas Siskauskas of CSKA Moscow in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Anthony Parker of Maccabi Tel Aviv won the award in its first two seasons, 2005 and 2006.
Doncic won’t likely be able to attend NBA Draft night because he’ll play in the ACB playoffs with Real Madrid.
