Will he be able to get to his spots as a point guard against aggressive ball pressure? ", "I feel like I want to be the hero of the game, you know?" Even as recently as February 2020 at BWB Chicago, Giddey wasn't viewed as a surefire NBA player. Whether it was an innate characteristic or a product of growing up around the game, the Slovenian sensation was wired differently -- joyous and full of life, yet confident with a killer mentality. NBA playoffs 2021: Everything you need to know about the 16 teams in the mix, Social media responds to Morant's heroics, Raptors fan joins Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Scouting Doncic: What makes him a potential No. Doncic's production given his age is unprecedented. In a few years you don't even hear from them anymore. Listen. Full Details Eager to spend as much time on the court as possible, Doncic would beg his parents to go practice with the older teams on his off days. Dragic put the understudy on his back and paraded him through the arena, passing the torch to Slovenia's next star. Meet 'that Oregon softball girl' on TikTok, Haley Cruse, The greatest college baseball game ever: 'The heartache is what made it more memorable', Verstappen dominant as Mercedes, Ferrari drop the ball, Premier League Worst XI: Arsenal, Van de Beek, Lloris underwhelm, Premier League best XI: Man City dominate; Kane over Salah. "It was amazing to watch. Many fizzle out, peaking too early or falling victim to the hype. I have missed some important shots before but you need to learn from this. "The 'if you're not athletic you're not getting drafted or you're not going to make it in the NBA anymore' [line of thinking], I think that's completely gone," Ingles said. Are the Ingles comps underselling his NBA outlook? "It still hasn't really processed with me.". He is adding nuance around the rim as a finisher and would benefit from refining Ingles' patented push shot, using more snakes to the middle of the floor, employing more hostage dribbles and getting to the free throw line at a greater clip. He still has a bit of a slow release, and he could stand to add more ways to get to his pull-up jumper when a big is switched onto him, but the confidence is growing. But the film tells most of the story, and at the end of the day, 6-foot-8 perimeter players who can pass, dribble and at least shoot well enough to keep the defense honest have a place in the NBA. 38d Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz. Here's what we saw in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight from players up and down the draft board. The nine-year-old boy from Dragic's photo has evolved into Real Madrid's crown jewel, the pride of Slovenia and one of this year's top draft prospects. ET on ESPN. "It wasn't like, this team needs to bring me over because I'm an elite 3-point shooter or an elite defender or a playmaker.". "It was hard, really hard, especially the first two, three months," Doncic said. Back in 2006, a then-17-year-old Ingles went for 29 points in his first ever NBL game with the South Dragons. Five more NBA Academy alums are projected to be selected in 2022. The 6-foot-8 forward came in at No. Can Lakers flip the switch? Forty-one years after leaving Purdue, 49ers' Keena Turner graduates with his daughter, Premier League final day: Liverpool joy, Kane helps Chelsea into top four, Leicester woe. When his father left Slovenian club Domzale for powerhouse Union Olimpija in 2007, Doncic went with him. Doncic started to learn Spanish, adapt to the culture in Madrid and progress quite rapidly as a player. ET on ESPN ESPN's Mike Schmitz: "I think this is gonna be the steal of the draft, to be honest. Facebook; Twitter; Facebook Messenger; Pinterest; Email; The NBA is a star-driven league. "If it was the right play to make, he was making it.". What type of player can he be at the next level? However, they are no longer favored to be Kentucky’s first player drafted in 2021, according to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz in their new 2021 mock NBA Draft. At 18 Fournier was playing only 14 minutes per game in France Pro A. Make Your Picks. But in the playoffs, having stars isn't enough. It was pretty amazing.'". "In this moment I told someone that he reminded me of a young Drazen Petrovic," said longtime Olimpija basketball chief Srecko Bester. Quick outlet passes, behind-the-back finds in transition, perfectly timed skip passes over the top of the defense -- Doncic had all of the tricks, and the basketball savvy of a seasoned vet. They come in all different shapes, with varying levels of success, but the emergence of that prototype is a big reason a prospect such as Cade Cunningham is so highly coveted. "The next day at 12 his parents would call me saying, 'Please can Luka come to practice, he's begging to play.' Just for his size, the way that he handles the game, the way that he carries himself on and off the court. I think a lot of people get to a level and think they're done. CSKA Moscow mainstay and former Euroleague defensive player of the year Kyle Hines remembers first seeing a 16-year-old Doncic on the personnel report as the Russian powerhouse prepared for a game against Real Madrid in January 2016. He is known for his Internet presence, especially his YouTube videos. 1 NBA draft pickNBA calendar: Every important date from now until the playoffsWill Brandon Ingram break out or bust in Year 2?2 Related. Monday through Friday, host Pablo Torre brings you an inside look at the most interesting stories at ESPN, as told by the top reporters and insiders on the planet. How did each team fare on signing day? Where Giddey goes in the draft also remains to be seen. After his strong performance the interest between Real Madrid and Doncic heightened, as did the Slovenian's play when he returned back to Ljubljana. He's a really special talent, and to see he's come through the same pathway as me, it's really cool to watch. The best players still available after NBA mock draft (1:48) Jevon Carter and Jalen Brunson are two players who can provide value despite not being taken in the first round of ESPN… Playing half the season as a 17-year-old, he was the only player in the Euroleague last season to average at least 15 points, eight rebounds and eight assists per 40 minutes. ", Being able to create against rangy, NBA-caliber defenders was a question mark even a teenage phenom like Doncic faced despite his long list of accolades. Giddey will be the first NBA Academy graduate to be drafted. There will surely be a learning curve, but as is the case in virtually every other aspect of his game, his instincts and anticipation -- the hardest traits to develop -- will help ease the transition. I don't think that's going to happen with Luka.". Giddey recently joined Ball as the only 18-year-olds in NBL history to record back-to-back triple-doubles, while reminding some NBA evaluators of fellow Aussie great Ingles. "These days, you can't even put an armbar on somebody; it's a foul. "He had this from the moment he was born," said Lojze Sisko, the director of Union Olimpija's youth program and Doncic's under-12 coach for his final season before leaving for Spain. With that in mind, how does Giddey's production stack up? Joe's definitely someone I watch and kind of take parts out of his game and try to put them into mine.". His size and feel for the game have clear value in the NBA, but for Giddey to maximize his long-term potential as a pick-and-roll playmaker, he'll have to continue evolving as a shooter. 20k Followers, 1,025 Following, 1,435 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Mike Schmitz (@mikeschmitzscouting) While he is more efficient in the NBA than he was in Australia, Ball's per-40 minute numbers with the Charlotte Hornets are almost identical to his per-40 minutes in 12 games with the Illawarra Hawks. "I'm excited. He uses sweeping left-to-right crossovers and timely behind-the-backs. "Joe was way more like Josh than what he might remember," said Marty Clarke, the NBA's Global Academy technical director and a former Saint Mary's College assistant. Doncic was raised on the hardwood, sweeping Slovenian gym floors at almost every one of his father's games and sneaking in as many halftime jumpers as he could. played on the Slovenian national team as a naturalized citizen. It's impossible. NCAAM. I'm a fan.". ... ESPN + Continue reading this article and more from top writers, for … He's just so versatile. • Heat at Bucks, 2 p.m. Ball is the most recent case study. ", Meet Australia's Josh Giddey, a potential 2021 NBA lottery pick, How Phil Mickelson stunned golf by becoming the oldest major champion, Phil, 50, wins PGA, becoming oldest major champ, CP3 guts through shoulder injury in Suns win, Jazz's Mitchell out for Game 1 with ankle injury, NBA eyes midseason tournament, sources say, Ronaldo makes history as Serie A top goal scorer, Lewy beats Ronaldo, Messi to Euro Golden Shoe, Elliott wins rain-shortened Cup debut in Austin, Ex-MSU player Appling wanted in fatal shooting. But today’s author challenges us to stop pushing harder and find an easier path. But there's becoming a comfort level with evaluating prospects from the NBL because of the growing track record, along with the fact that teams are familiar with names like Bryce Cotton, Casper Ware, Jock Landale and Isaac Humphries. Surrounded by his local heroes in Ljubljana, Slovenia, a small nation of only 2 million, the young ball boy was captured in a moment of bliss. His father was a talented, creative and well-respected player in Slovenia, and on the court Doncic took after his old man with his crafty style of play and charisma. As Bogut described, Jokic has "a body of a guy that you'd have some beers with at the local pub." After a full practice with the older kids, Doncic was then bumped up to the Olimpija selection team, where he'd develop over the course of the next few years, regularly competing against players three and four years his senior. With that in mind, here are six prospects all under the age of 23 whom teams would be wise to target in a deal. Measuring 6-foot-4½ and weighing 171 pounds at the time, Giddey impressed with his passing and feel for the game but looked far from a future NBA lottery pick. His name: Luka Doncic. As ESPN writer Kevin Pelton told me in an email, "The results from Ball/Hampton/Tate should upgrade what we think about the NBL.". He also isn't 240-plus pounds with a step-back jumper to play off of. I always have this memory. But ESPN’s top-notch draft expert Mike Schmitz did provide great insight into the Illini’s two top NBA prospects. Mike Schmitz ESPN . It's also cool to see the translation he's made from playing in the NBL to then going to the NBA and still being able to have the same impact that he had here. "That's the bigger piece, is what's going on between his ears. It's lights out. His mother, Kim, played professionally. After Ingles sent him a congratulatory text when he signed in the NBL, Giddey began to reach out with questions about film study or decision-making in certain situations. If surrounded by shooting, a skilled roller and another shifty guard next to him, there's surely going to be enough space for him to operate on offense. Despite a strong NBL career from 2006 to 2009, it wasn't until Ingles demonstrated his ability to produce at the highest levels in Europe -- Barcelona and Maccabi Tel Aviv -- that he was able to latch on in the NBA as a free agent at the age of 27. His older sister plays at Oral Roberts. "It's unbelievable. "Even at that age you could see he had a great feeling for the ball like his dad," said Dragic, who played 109 official games with Sasa over the course of three seasons, spanning two clubs. "I didn't have my parents there. As Ingles said of those critics looking back now, "How f---ing stupid do they feel?". "It's crazy.". Role and opportunity are clear factors here, and Tate's NBL numbers understandably far surpass his production with the Houston Rockets. Ingles also plays at a fairly slow pace, but because of his skill level, size, court vision and shooting, he is incredibly effective. Real or Not: Is Embiid the ultimate mismatch? I mean, the kid can damn near average a triple double when he figures it out.". Saturday, May 22 He's one day removed from donning a 2017 Eurobasket gold medal, and arguably the most accomplished 18-year-old European prospect of all time. "It was like the first practice, he came down the lane and dunked it out of nowhere," said former NBA lottery pick and 2016-17 Real Madrid newcomer, Anthony Randolph, who also played on the Slovenian national team as a naturalized citizen. ESPN … He mentions the value of having an aggressive roll man to open up his shooters. Two days later the 18-year-old went for 11 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists in an upset win over Spain in the semifinals, shining in virtually every aspect against the likes of Rubio, Marc and Pau Gasol and an extremely talented Spain team. In the foreground of the photo stood Sasa's nine-year-old son in a green Olimpija jersey, gold medal around his neck, beaming with joy. Pelton told us that Giddey, before his recent shooting slump, comes out fifth in his projections, so far, behind only Jalen Suggs, Cunningham and the two G Leaguers. He finds ways to do it," Clarke said. It wasn't until Basketball Without Borders Asia in India in 2018 that he really introduced himself to scouts at the NBA Academy program. His father, Warrick, played more than 400 games in the NBL, serving mostly as a utility big man. Over nine years after standing with his idols in Ljubljana and watching his father hoist the Slovenian league trophy, Doncic hobbled on one foot and gathered with teammates of his own in Istanbul. Giddey isn't a knockdown shooter or the most dynamic shot-creator, but he already has an NBA superpower to offer with his tremendous court vision and ability to manage the game. Due to league rules, the 8-year-old Doncic wasn't allowed to compete at the under-14 level, but he tore through his own age group and played a role off the bench on the under-12 team as well. Every postseason, the NBA sees young role players step up … ET on ABC 1 in the 2018 NBA draft, which no European perimeter player has ever done. ", The same could be said for Hampton, who averaged 17.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.7 assists per 40 with the New Zealand Breakers through 15 games and who is now averaging 17.8-7.5-4.1 per 40 in 25 games with the Orlando Magic. Now, he sits at No. There has never been an NBA draft prospect like Slovenia's Luka Doncic, CP3 guts through shoulder injury in Suns win, Jazz's Mitchell out for Game 1 with ankle injury, NBA eyes midseason tournament, sources say, Mavericks' Kleber: Clips' staredown crossed line, 76ers' Harris prepared for 'dogfights' all playoffs, Nets' Big 3 erupts in 2nd half, wins playoff debut. The question marks about Giddey being able to score efficiently in the half court against a set defense are all valid. Giddey is clearly nowhere near as accomplished as Doncic. Here's what we saw in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight from players up and down the draft board. He's handled the pressure-cooker that comes along with being a childhood prodigy with tremendous poise to this point, producing at an extremely high level against NBA-caliber talent. Father Michael Schmitz is a Catholic priest and Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries in the Diocese of Duluth, Minnesota, as well as a Catholic speaker and author. Mike Schmitz ESPN . Now, he's a driller. La Russa: No rift despite clubhouse disagreement. Both of his younger sisters play in the Melbourne youth program, following in his footsteps. Giddey eventually accepted a scholarship to the NBA Global Academy and first caught our eye in April 2019 in Minneapolis at a Final Four showcase event. Whether it's superstars like Luka Doncic and LeBron James, an up-and-comer like LaMelo Ball or successful vets like Khris Middleton and Joe Ingles, 6-foot-8 playmakers are NBA gold. The photo featured Dragic, then a youthful 21-year-old point guard prospect, and nine of his Union Olimpija teammates, hoisting the 2008 Slovenian League championship trophy. Can Manny Pacquiao defeat Errol Spence Jr.? Practicing with the senior team, Doncic soaked up every bit of information he could from Spanish legends like Llull and Rodriguez. Olimpija Basketball School coach, Grega Brezovec, was a longtime friend of Sasa and Doncic's mother, Mirjam Poterbin, and invited Doncic to practice with the 1999-born generation. Facebook; Twitter; Facebook Messenger; Pinterest; Email; At 7-foot-2 barefoot, with a 7-foot-9 wingspan, a massive standing reach, winglike agility, soft touch from 3, tremendous timing as a shot-blocker and excellent feel as a passer, 17-year-old Victor Wembanyama is the world's most intriguing NBA prospect. Whereas Ingles didn't have one elite skill to bring to the NBA floor as an 18-year-old, Giddey is already arguably the best passer in the 2021 draft class, which should translate from day one in the NBA. Taylor-Ramirez fallout: Rematch possibilities; could Taylor-Terence Crawford be next? Between now and June, Doncic will be compared to the late ex-Yugoslavian legend Drazen Petrovic and touted as arguably the best international prospect ever many times. "It probably wasn't until 12 month ago that I thought I could actually make a career out of basketball," Giddey told us. Mike Schmitz sits down for a virtual film session and breaks down plays with Dayton Flyers forward Obi Toppin. Although he struggled in the Euroleague final four, Doncic carried a strong season into Eurobasket play, producing like a 10-year veteran for a Slovenian team that shocked all of Europe on its way to a gold medal win over Serbia. Randolph has played with some of the top international prospects in the last decade. Trusts the league, as long as players follow the rules. UFC takeaways -- Font is a problem at bantamweight; give Esparza the title shot, Giddey shines in front of NBA scouts as 36ers win, Boomers selection just the start for Giddey, NBA draft rankings: Top 100 players in this stacked class, Mavericks at Clippers, 4:30 p.m. With Ball, R.J. Hampton and Jae'Sean Tate all having varying degrees of success in the NBA, teams are getting a better handle on just how NBL production translates to the next level, as there's far more data than when prospects like Terrance Ferguson and even Brian Bowen played Down Under.
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