Luka Doncic is about to become an NBA player Authentic Kody Clark Jersey , though he’s unlike the other top prospects who will be drafted.
He’s already a pro. He’s already a champion.
And he might just be the most accomplished and intriguing player in this class.
After capping his brilliant stay in Spain with another title, the Slovenian guard heads the list of international players expected to be selected Thursday, a teenager whose resume is already more complete than even some of the most season veterans.
”He may be the most accomplished European teenager to ever come into the draft,” ESPN draft analyst Jay Bilas said. ”You know, there’s very little that is unknown about him. He’s not some workout wonder that people are projecting. He’s accomplished things, and he has been seen in 5-on-5 against high-level competition for a number of years. He’s played professional basketball since he was 13.”
Doncic couldn’t join Deandre Ayton, Marvin Bagley III and the other headliners in New York on Wednesday because he was en route from Spain after finishing off his dream season by helping Real Madrid win its ACB league championship Tuesday. The 6-foot-7 guard made a 3-pointer off one leg with the shot clock running down and Real Madrid clinging to a three-point lead, and his team held on to win the series in four games and allow him to get to Barclays Center in time for Thursday’s festivities, rather than stay behind for a Game 5.
He had already been the MVP of both the Euroleague season and its Final Four, the youngest player ever to win both honors, as Real Madrid won that title as well.
”I’m speechless,” he told the team’s website after Tuesday’s victory. ”It has been the season of my life. It’s incredible.”
The Phoenix Suns have the No. 1 pick and are widely expected to draft Arizona center Deandre Ayton, even though new coach Igor Kokoskov coached Doncic last summer on the Slovenian national team that won the nation’s first EuroBasket gold medal.
Then it’s Sacramento Giants Saquon Barkley Jersey , Atlanta, Memphis and Dallas, and any of them could consider a player who’s only 19 but has been playing against some of the toughest competition outside the NBA for years. And while there may always be some skepticism of European players because Darko Milicic bombed so badly after being taken right behind LeBron James and ahead of Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade 15 years ago, it would be a surprise if Doncic failed after all he’s already done.
”He should easily transition to the league really well,” Miami guard Lonnie Walker IV said. ”I mean, look at what he’s doing in the Euroleague. You’ve got to respect what he’s doing. You can’t say he’s not good and he’s the MVP and everything of that spot. So pay respect where it’s due. He’s a great player. All you can say is tell him to continue to work hard and prove everyone that’s doubting him wrong.”
Even with Ayton, a native of the Bahamas, and Doncic at the top of the list of international candidates, the strength of this draft is at the college level. Power programs such as Duke (Bagley and Wendell Carter Jr.), Michigan State (Jaren Jackson Jr. and Miles Bridges), national champion Villanova (Mikal Bridges and Donte DiVincenzo) and Kentucky (Kevin Knox and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) could have multiple players taken in the top 10-15 selections of the two-round draft, and teams looking for point guards could choose between freshmen Trae Young of Oklahoma and Collin Sexton of Alabama.
They could give the NBA a second straight strong rookie class Mike Hughes Color Rush Jersey , after Utah’s Donovan Mitchell, Boston’s Jayson Tatum and 2016 No. 1 pick Ben Simmons of Philadelphia all helped their teams advance to at least the second round of the postseason.
”I think it’s a transformational class,” Missouri’s Michael Porter Jr. said. ”I think we’ve got a lot of different kinds of players: Deandre, Marvin, the big dudes who are special, and then me along with a couple other wings who can do a lot of different things, and then point guard, Trae, Collin Sexton, and then I heard that Luka dude – I ain’t seen much on him but I heard he’s special, too. So I think we’re a great draft, one of the best in a while.”
—
Blake Snell took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, Kevin Kiermaier hit a grand slam and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Washington Nationals 11-0 on Monday night.
Wilson Ramos homered twice and rookie Jake Bauers had four hits in the Rays’ fourth straight win.
Snell (10-4) walked Trea Turner and Bryce Harper to open the game before retiring 18 straight www.billsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-russell-bodine-jersey , striking out five straight at one point. Anthony Rendon doubled leading off the seventh for the first of Washington’s two hits.
Kiermaier’s first home run of the season came during a six-run second inning against Gio Gonzalez (6-5).
It was the eighth loss in 11 games for the Nationals.
YANKEES 4, PHILLIES 2
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Jonathan Loaisiga took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, Aaron Judge ripped his 20th homer and the Yankees snapped a three-game losing streak.
Loaisiga (2-0) didn’t allow a hit until Jorge Alfaro lined a single to right leading off the sixth. He struck out eight in 5 1/3 innings in his third start after jumping from Double-A to the majors.
Philadelphia’s Vince Velasquez (5-8) allowed two runs and three hits in six innings.
Aroldis Chapman got four outs for his 23rd save in 24 tries.
ATHLETICS 5, TIGERS 4
DETROIT (AP) – Jed Lowrie hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the top of the ninth inning to lift Oakland over Detroit on a historic day for Edwin Jackson.
Jackson allowed a run and six hits in six innings in his first appearance for the A’s, tying a record by playing for his 13th major league team. Called up from Triple-A, the 34-year-old righty matched the mark for most clubs set by former reliever Octavio Dotel.
The A’s trailed 4-1 after Nicholas Castellanos hit a three-run homer in the seventh, but Oakland scored three in the eighth off Joe Jimenez. Then Lowrie connected for his 12th homer, barely fair down the line in right field off Shane Greene (2-4).
Lou Trivino (6-1) got the win in relief, and Blake Treinen pitched the ninth for his 18th save. The A’s have won seven of nine.
BLUE JAYS 6, ASTROS 3
HOUSTON (AP) – Toronto’s Curtis Granderson homered in consecutive at-bats against Justin Verlander, and Randal Grichuk added a two-run shot and a huge defensive play.
Granderson’s leadoff shot in the fifth tied it at 3. He connected again with two out in the seventh, belting an opposite-field drive off Verlander (9-3).
Grichuk’s soaring home run came against Will Harris and made it 6-3 with two out in the eighth.
Grichuk then reached over the short wall in right field to rob George Springer of a homer with two on and no outs in the ninth.
Toronto’s J.A. Happ (10-3) got his sixth straight win. Seung-hwan Oh worked the ninth for his second save.
RANGERS 7, PADRES 4
ARLINGTON www.buccaneersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-jordan-whitehead-jersey , Texas (AP) – Shin-Soo Choo extended his career-best on-base streak to 38 games with three hits, including the tiebreaking RBI single in Texas’ strange five-run outburst.
Robinson Chirinos had two hits and two RBIs for Texas, which has won eight of its last nine games. Tony Barnette (2-0) got the win, and Keone Kela worked the ninth for his 19th save in 19 chances.
All five Rangers runs in the decisive sixth inning came after it appeared that Chirinos had struck out for the second out with two runners on base. It looked as if Austin Hedges had the ball secured in his mitt that kicked up the dirt when he reached down.
Umpire Tony Randazzo initially indicated Chirinos was out. But that was changed to a foul ball after a discussion among all four umpires, and Chirinos lined an RBI single on the next pitch by Craig Stammen (4-1).
MARINERS 5, ORIOLES 3
BALTIMORE (AP) – Dee Gordon’s slick seventh-inning bunt was the lone hit in a two-run uprising that put Seattle ahead for good, and the Mariners beat the Orioles for just their second win in eight games.
Denard Span homered for the Mariners, who benefited from 10 walks and a pivotal wild pitch to get back on track.
Felix Hernandez (7-6) allowed three runs on four hits over six innings, and Edwin Diaz worked the ninth for his major league-leading 28th save.
Jonathan Schoop homered and had two RBIs for the Orioles. Miguel Castro (2-3) got the loss.
MARLINS 9, DIAMONDBACKS 5
MIAMI (AP) – Brian Anderson and Cameron Maybin each drove in two runs, helping Miami spoil Shelby Miller’s return to the mound after missing over a year for Tommy John surgery.
Dan Straily (3-3) allowed three runs in 6 1/3 innings for the Marlins, who have won three in a row. Justin Bour hit his 13th homer.
Miller (0-1) made his first start since April 23, 2017. He gave up six hits and five runs in 3 2/3 innings.
PIRATES 6 www.texansauthorizedshops.com/authentic-martinas-rankin-jersey , METS 4
NEW YORK (AP) – Josh Bell hit a two-run homer, Gregory Polanco also went deep and the Pirates took advantage of some dreadful defense by the Mets to snap a five-game losing streak.
In a series opener between tumbling teams, Pittsburgh built a five-run lead and held on to hand the Mets their seventh straight defeat before a mostly quiet crowd of 22,135. New York is 6-24 in its last 30 games.
Pittsburgh’s Jameson Taillon (5-6) allowed two runs in six-plus innings. Felipe Vazquez struck out the side for his 15th save.
Two errors in the first three innings by rookie third baseman Luis Guillorme – touted as a slick fielder – led directly to a pair of unearned runs against Mets starter Seth Lugo (2-3).
ROYALS 2, ANGELS 0
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Brad Keller pitched seven innings of two-hit ball, helping the Royals beat the Angels in the makeup of a game that was frozen out in April.