The 2018 NBA draft is a month away, and there is still no clear vision for where players, particularly the top prospects, will end up. Luka Doncic, the Slovenian star who is a top-two pick on most reputable mock drafts, along with Arizona star center DeAndre Ayton, is “not sure” whether he will make the jump to the NBA.
According to Alex Madrid of EuroHoops, the 19-year-old says the EuroLeague Final Four is his focus, and he isn’t lending much thought to joining the NBA.
“I’m not sure if these are the last two games [in EuroLeague]. We have yet to make this decision. Perhaps after the season.”
The process for Doncic to play in the NBA started with him signing the paperwork to declare for the draft, signifying the European sensation’s interest in playing the League.
However, with his Real Madrid squad in the middle of a title run, there is little reason for Doncic to discuss his plans relating to leaving for another league publicly.
There is some reason to believe, according to ESPN’s Jonathon Givony, that Doncic is staying mum on his future to applying pressure to the Sacramento Kings, who own the number two overall pick, as an effort to steer the direction of his draft status.
Following transcription from Yahoo Sports,
“He’s actually under contract in Real Madrid, and if he doesn’t want to go to Sacramento, he could definitely make things hard on them and make things difficult by saying, ‘Guys, if you draft me, I’m going to sign a huge extension. I’m going to make 2 million Euro next year, and I’m not coming over until you trade my rights.”
Doncic averaged 14.5 points, 4.7 assists, and 5.2 rebounds overseas this past season.
