Dallas Mavericks: 5 goals for Luka Doncic’s rookie season

5. Improve conditioning

It’s no secret Doncic is not the most athletic prospect coming out the draft. That is no knock against his potential to become a great player, and possibly an All-Star for years to come. But with the modern NBA increasing in pace-and-space, and players becoming otherworldly in regards to athletic ability, Doncic will have to work extra hard in conditioning his body to be ready for the gruesome, rigorousness that is the NBA season.

As mentioned, Doncic does have the most experience and minutes played in a professional setting compared to any of his other top draft selections. The Dallas Mavericks have a fantastic facilities and coaching staff, with bench boss Rick Carlisle leading the way to help prepare the rookie for the upcoming season.

Doncic’s fundamentals and size at 6’8″ and 230 pounds will help him hide his athleticism and outmuscle his opponents when tasked with smaller guards and undersized wings. For example:

Another good sign for the team and for Doncic, is the presence of fellow Mavericks rookie, Jalen Brunson, the National Player of the Year and NCAA champion with the Villanova Wildcats. With both prospects having different but similar championship pedigree, they know the effort and motivation necessary to bring home the ultimate prize — in this instance, the NBA title.

Dallas would be wise to use these two to motivate one another to become better and usher in a new era alongside last year’s standout rookie, Dennis Smith Jr.