Dallas Mavericks: 5 takeaways from the 2018-19 NBA season

2. Luka Doncic is the real deal

Heading into the 2018-19 season, the general public knew Luka Doncic was going to be good. As a teenager, he had won MVP honors in the EuroLeague, dazzling the overseas crowd with a blend of savvy and flare not seen in such a young basketball player.

Anyone who claims to have predicted a stat line close to the 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game Luka averaged in his rookie season is lying. In doing so, Doncic not only asserted himself at the top among his ridiculously talented draft mates, but he’s etched his name next to some of the game’s all-time best as well.

Every night, it seemed like a new Doncic highlight would make its way around the internet. On some nights, it was the nastiest of stepbacks creating more separation than even the most experienced of veterans could only dream of pulling off just once. Other times it was a blend of flashy dribbles moves mixed with dynamic passing skills leaving defenses in awe.

Not many rookies live up to their pre-draft hype, at least not in their very first taste of the game at its highest level. In his year-long introduction, Luka not only justified his believers and put to shame his critics, but he’s become a fan-favorite already for a team that knows exactly how to handle an international basketball superstar.