Phoenix Suns: The pros and cons of drafting Luka Doncic No. 1

Pro: Shooting ability

Luka Doncic’s 31.6 percent conversion rate from 3-point range this season probably has a lot of people scratching their heads on this one. How does a below-average shooter from long range project to bring shooting ability to the league’s least efficient 3-point shooting team?

Well, for starters, Doncic’s numbers dropped over the last few months as the fatigue and grind of 18 straight months of basketball began to wear on his 19-year-old body. So although he still needs to work on making his release a bit faster, the fundamentals are there.

Doncic is a master of the step-back, showing the knack for manipulating defenders off the dribble like Manu Ginobili and creating tons of separation with his step-back like a young James Harden. Playing alongside NBA threats on the offensive end like Booker, he’d enjoy easier looks on spot-up opportunities too.

Doncic is not a pure shooter, but he should be more than formidable from downtown given a few years of seasoning and fine-tuning his jumper. His ability to create separation is what’s important here, and based on his high free throw percentages throughout his EuroLeague career, he already has the makings of a respectable shooter overall.

Con: Lack of athleticism

Doncic’s lack of athleticism has been largely overblown, but it’s still one of the biggest hindrances to his superstar potential. It’s especially manifest on the defensive end, as he lacks the lateral quickness to stick with more explosive players off the dribble.

That lack of burst could limit his offensive ceiling as well. For all the touch he has on floaters and for all his impressive finishing ability, he doesn’t often use his left hand at the basket and is not a freak NBA athlete, which will make it imperative he works on that off-hand and develops more crafty ways to convert around the cup.

Given his ability to shake defenders off the dribble, his high basketball IQ, his elite passing and his Joe Johnson-esque frame, this could be much ado about nothing. Because he can handle the ball, shoot, create his own shot and make plays for others out of the pick-and-roll, he’s too smart and too skilled to fail in the NBA.

However, that lack of athleticism will force him to heighten those abilities, even if he’s capable of rising up once he gets going downhill. He’s not a bad athlete by any means, but he probably won’t be throwing down many highlight reel posters in his career either.