By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
Potential Νο. 1 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft Luka Doncic might not even be present in the ceremony that will take place in Barclays Center on June 21.
If Real Madrid – the Spanish League standings leader (currently 21-3) and possibly the favorite to win the title – advances to the ACB Finals, then it will be extremely difficult for Doncic to attend the Draft night in Brooklyn. His absence will be certain especially if the quarterfinal (best-of-three) and semifinal (best-of-five) series will stretch to three and five games respectively.
Mirjam Poterbin, Doncic’s mother, recently confirmed that her son will declare for the Draft and also gave her estimations that her son might probably not be there when NBA commissioner Adam Silver calls his name and announces the team that selects him in the procedure.
“He will declare for the Draft but he will probably not be there (USA). That’s when the Spanish League Finals are scheduled. They will be decided after three games,” she said to SportKlub.
Last year another top European prospect, Frank Ntilikina, took permission by Strasbourg to leave during Game 4 and Game 5 the French Pro A League Finals vs. Elan Chalon, and make a flash round-trip to New York in order to attend the Draft where the New York Knicks selected him with the 8th overall pick.
It seems highly unlikely for such a thing to happen with Doncic, since he’s the top contributor for Real Madrid in both EuroLeague (16.8 points per game, 4.8 rebounds p.g. 4.4. assists p.g.) and Spanish League (13.5 p.p.g. 5.6 r.p.g. 4.3 a.p.g.). His presence in the ACB Finals, given that Real makes it there, will be nothing less than vital for the Spanish team.