Dallas Mavericks: 5 times NBA superstars praised Luka Doncic

2.  Kevin Durant

After Luka Doncic led the Mavericks with 24 points in their 112-109 win against the Golden State Warriors, Kevin Durant had nothing but glowing things to say about the rookie in a postgame interview:

"“I like him a lot. He’s polished. He’s skilled. You can tell that he played professional basketball already and they’ve got a great guy in him to lead this franchise in the future.”"

Durant alludes to something Giannis Antetokounmpo spoke about in detail when he references Doncic’s previous professional experience. They both believe Luka Doncic’s play in the EuroLeague has been vital to his fast start in the NBA.

While the debate on whether American players or international players are better prepared for NBA play is never-ending, it’s clear that Wonder Boy’s path to the NBA has worked for him.

Stars like Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo have taken note of the EuroLeague’s influence on Doncic’s growth as a basketball player, and it’s fair to wonder how quickly he would’ve acclimated to the NBA game if he hadn’t had that previous professional experience.