Since entering the league back in 2018, Luka Doncic has produced quite the NBA Resume. Doncic is a rookie of the year, a two-time all-star, and an MVP candidate at the age of 22. However, not everybody believed Doncic would be capable of succeeding in the NBA.
Rashad Phillips felt Doncic wouldn�t produce as well as other guards in the draft. He had Doncic as a second-round talent and thought other players would produce more in the NBA.
Phillips had this to say back in 2018.
” I believe Alonzo Trier is better than Luka Doncic, and Alonzo went undrafted. That’s why I stand by my second-round comments. That doesn’t mean I don’t like Luka; I just know there are other players that are capable of producing the same, if not more.
Rashad Phillips
Doncic is a two-time all-star, and Trier hasn�t found his way back on an NBA roster. Trier had a brief run with the Knicks that ended last season after 24 games.
Phillips wasn�t the only analyst skeptical of Doncic heading into the draft. Colin Cowherd and Skip Bayless didn�t feel Doncic had the athleticism and physicality to play in the NBA.
�Doncic at 6�7 will get exposed for all the inadequacy that Dirk had. Dirk is not a great athlete, and Dirk does not have explosiveness; Dirk is not physical; well, that�s what is going to happen to Doncic. I�m not sure he will be a dominating NBA player,� said Bayless.
Doncic is averaging over 25 points, eight rebounds, and close to eight assists in his brief NBA career. He has led the Mavericks to the playoffs the last two seasons and is averaging over 32 points per game in the postseason.
Doncic faced a lot of criticism coming from Europe to the NBA. However, he has shown he is going to be a presence in this league for years to come.