NBA execs pick Luka Doncic as best young player to build team around

In September of 2020, HoopsHype polled 15 NBA talent evaluators and asked them to rank their top five Under 25 players to build around. We have repeated the exercise with 17 NBA executives this time. There was no change at No. 1, but quite a few …

In September of 2020, HoopsHype polled 15 NBA talent evaluators and asked them to rank their top five Under 25 players to build around. We have repeated the exercise with 17 NBA executives this time. There was no change at No. 1, but quite a few after that. Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic remains the first choice, though he’s no longer the consensus pick after a somewhat disappointing first half of the season in which he’s still playing himself into shape.

Source: Michael Scotto @ HoopsHype

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Darnell Mayberry @DarnellMayberry
Bulls’ 9-game win streak ends amid second-half troubles, Luka Dončić’s triple-double
via @TheAthletic theathletic.com/3060898/2022/0…11:01 AM
Chris Herrington @ChrisHerrington
Three of next four Grizz games, all home, are against West-leading Golden State (Ja vs. Steph, Klay back, NBATV), Luka & Dallas on ESPN, East-leading Chicago on TNT, MLK Day. (And then there’s ‘Sota.)
Probably one of the bigger regular-season weeks in franchise history. – 10:12 AM
Justin Kubatko @jkubatko
Luka Doncic last night:
✅ 22 PTS
✅ 14 REB
✅ 14 AST
Doncic now has 39 career triple-doubles, breaking a tie with Oscar Robertson for the most triple-doubles in NBA history by a player before their 23rd birthday. pic.twitter.com/qkcBGNz9R69:31 AM

Paul Garcia @PaulGarciaNBA
The Knicks are favored by 6.5 today against the Spurs.
Former Spur Luka Samanic is out tonight for the game. – 7:58 AM
Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
Doncic logs triple-double
Valanciunas returns to Toronto
Full European recap
Highlights, results, standings #NBA
eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/12…4:22 AM
Brad Townsend @townbrad
The lonely walk of the last Maverick, Doncic, to leave AAC. Of course poor slob writers still had to write stories. pic.twitter.com/UvzLjMM7sj12:15 AM

Brad Townsend @townbrad
Doncic looked surprised when I told him this is his longest winning streak as an NBA player. – 12:10 AM
Eddie Sefko @ESefko
Mavericks “immaculate” in their vibes after defense and Doncic triple-double fuel win over Chicago, pushes win streak to six.
mavs.com/luka-triple-do…12:05 AM
Chuck Cooperstein @coopmavs
the 22-14-14 Triple-double for Luka was the first (20-14-14) TD this season. It is the 5th of Luka’s career. Only Oscar (28), Westbrook (13), Wilt (10), and Magic (6) have more such games in their career. – 11:07 PM
Eddie Sefko @ESefko
Quick recap of Mavericks’ fourth-quarter getaway behind Luka’s triple-double.
mavs.com/luka-triple-do…9:37 PM
Rob Schaefer @rob_schaef
Final: Mavericks 113, Bulls 99
LaVine and DeRozan score 20 points each. Coby White chips in 13 off the bench
Luka Doncic logged a 22-14-14 triple-double. Dallas won second half 59-44
Bulls’ longest win streak in 11 years ends at nine. Record falls to 26-11 – 9:37 PM
Dwain Price @DwainPrice
It’s a final: #Mavs 113, Bulls 99. Luka had 22-14-14, Josh and Maxi had 18 points apiece. Mavs have won 6 in a row and are 22-18. Bulls had their 9-game winning streak snapped. – 9:35 PM
KC Johnson @KCJHoop
Mavericks 113, Bulls 99
DeRozan 20 pts
LaVine 20 pts (7-21 FGs)
Vucevic 6-17 FGs
Doncic 22-14-14 triple-double
Kleber 6 3s
Brunson 17-4-4 – 9:35 PM
Tim MacMahon @espn_macmahon
Mavs’ 6-game winning streak now features convincing victories over Warriors and Bulls. Luka Doncic’s triple-double helped Dallas snap Chicago’s 9-game winning streak. – 9:35 PM
Eddie Sefko @ESefko
Luka Lob. Josh Green flush. Mavs up 93-85 with 8:51 to play. – 9:16 PM
Eddie Sefko @ESefko
Luka has a triple double after that assist to Josh Green for three. Mavs up 89-83. – 9:13 PM
Eddie Sefko @ESefko
Good one going at AAC. Mavericks up 83-79 going into the fourth quarter. Luka two assists from a triple-double. Mavericks had a strong finish to the third period, but this one is completely up for grabs. – 9:10 PM
Chuck Cooperstein @coopmavs
You can see why Mavs & Bulls are two of the hottest teams in @NBA. Great 1st half. CHI leads 55-54, and Mavs would lead had Doncic been able to finish as he normally does. Still 7-7-7 in half. Hardaway 9 Green 7 in 2nd after Mavs had trailed by 11. 2nd half soon @theeagledallas8:36 PM
Eddie Sefko @ESefko
Mavericks score the last nine points of the half and are only down 55-54 at the break. Luka with the luckiest stat line of them all: 7-7-7. – 8:28 PM
KC Johnson @KCJHoop
Bulls 55, Mavericks 54 at half
LaVine 14 pts
White 11 pts
DeRozan 10 pts, 4 assists
Doncic 7-7-7; 3-11 FGs – 8:27 PM
Stephen Noh @StephNoh
Nice help here from Coby White and DeMar DeRozan on Doncic. DeRozan stunting to shrink the driving gap, White providing low man rim protection.
This has been some of the secret sauce to the Bulls defense. Get flawed help defenders in position early so they can impact the play. pic.twitter.com/s7Xnutnylt8:17 PM

Rob Schaefer @rob_schaef
Bulls are doing a great job getting into Luka Doncic defensively. Lonzo Ball and Ayo Dosunmu have taken turns picking him up full-court. Really playing physical with him
Five minutes into Q2, Doncic has 6 assists, but is shooting 1/8 – 8:14 PM
Brad Townsend @townbrad
Per NBA Courtside, that was Doncic’s 1,750th career assist, FWIW. That’s a lot, if you’re wondering. – 8:12 PM
Brad Townsend @townbrad
Luka is livid. Often plays his best when mad. – 7:52 PM
Eddie Sefko @ESefko
Mavericks off to a rather awesome start, up 10-2 less than three minutes into the game against Chicago. Luka with 3 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists already. – 7:45 PM
Chuck Cooperstein @coopmavs
Mavs starters: DFS, Kleber, Powell, Brunson, Doncic
CHI starters: Jones, DeRozan, Vucevic, LaVine, Ball
6:40 tip @theeagledallas7:09 PM
Eddie Sefko @ESefko
Updated: Bulls-Mavs preview. Luka now cleared to play.
mavs.com/luka-a-go/6:41 PM
Mark Followill @MFollowill
Acting head coach Sean Sweeney confirms Luka is available for tonight’s game vs Chicago (630, BSSW). He missed the Houston game on Friday with a sprained right ankle. – 5:58 PM
Eddie Sefko @ESefko
Luka available tonight says acting coach Sean Sweeney. Finney-Smith also available. – 5:53 PM
Brad Townsend @townbrad
Sean Sweeney says Doncic worked out today, Sweeney says he’s not aware of any minutes restriction for Doncic. – 5:51 PM
Rob Schaefer @rob_schaef
Luka Doncic and Dorian Finney-Smith are available for Bulls-Mavericks. Both had been questionable
Kristaps Porzingis is still out in protocols – 5:47 PM
Chuck Cooperstein @coopmavs
Per Sweeney: Both Luka and DFS are available tonight vs CHI. 6:40 tip @theeagledallas5:47 PM
Tim MacMahon @espn_macmahon
Luka Doncic (ankle) will play tonight vs. Bulls, per Mavs acting head coach Sean Sweeney. – 5:47 PM
KC Johnson @KCJHoop
With Jason Kidd in protocols, assistant coach Sean Sweeney said pregame via Zoom from Dallas that Mavericks star Luka Doncic is available vs. Bulls. – 5:47 PM
Brad Townsend @townbrad
Doncic is available tonight. – 5:47 PM
Marc Stein @TheSteinLine
Luka Dončić will return to the Mavericks’ lineup tonight against Chicago after missing Dallas’ last game with a right ankle sprain, acting coach Sean Sweeney says.
More NBA from me: marcstein.substack.com5:46 PM
Eddie Sefko @ESefko
As of latest injury update, Luka Doncic still questionable tonight. So is Dorian Finney-Smith with an illness. Porzingis, Cauley-Stein and Kidd all out. – 5:33 PM
David Thorpe @coachthorpe
Luka’s team, and Ja’s, are not going to easily beat Primo and Vassell’s, in a few years. Those guys are going to be a fantastic backcourt. – 2:17 PM
NBA Math @NBA_Math
Western All-Stars, determined by RPR MVP Predictor:
Starters
G: Stephen Cury
G: Donovan Mitchell
F: Nikola Jokic
F: LeBron James
F: Rudy Gobert
Reserves:
G: Ja Morant
G: Chris Paul
F: Karl-Anthony Towns
F: Anthony Davis
F: Deandre Ayton
WC: Devin Booker
WC: Luka Doncic pic.twitter.com/CD8uw2psGS11:02 AM

Brad Townsend @townbrad
Luka Doncic upgraded to questionable; Marjanovic clears protocols ahead of Mavs-Bulls on Sunday dallasnews.com/sports/maveric…3:44 PM
Mike McGraw @McGrawDHSports
Mavericks have listed Luka Doncic as questionable for tomorrow with a right ankle sprain. He didn’t play last night vs. Houston. Kristaps Porzingis listed out (protocols)
#Bulls will be looking for their 10th straight win in Dallas on Sunday – 3:37 PM
Marc Stein @TheSteinLine
The Mavericks say Luka Dončić (right ankle sprain) is questionable for tomorrow night’s game against Chicago. – 2:55 PM

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