NBA: Dallas Mavericks GM compares Luka Doncic to Dirk Nowitzki

The Dallas Mavericks have the fifth pick in the 2018 draft. Mav general manager Donnie Nelson doesn’t think Dallas will trade the pick away. Nelson also talked about top talent Luka Doncic, who according to Nelson will need some time to acclimatize to the NBA. He drew a comparison to Dirk Nowitzki.

Nelson doesn’t think Doncic will have much influence in the NBA right away, even though he says the 19-year-old Slovenian has a lot of talent and believes that he will become a really good player. The GM compared it to Nowitzki in 1998 and his first year in the NBA. “Dirk was very young when he came to us, maybe a year older than Doncic is now,” Nelson said at KTCK 1310AM The Ticket.

“They want him in the NBA so he can be physically prepared. Dirk was also pushed around like a rag doll in his first year. It took him two years to get into the league.” This could also apply to Doncic, also because he is at home on the piano. “The twos and threes in this league are real killers. It’ll be a while before he’s prepared for it.”

However, it’s doubtful whether the Mavs will actually find Doncic number 5 in their laps, but Nelson still sees “numerous players” who can help Dallas in the future.

Recently, rumors also arose that the Mavs could even trade their pick for a seasoned player. However, Nelson referred this to the realm of fables. “I don’t think we’ll get out of this draft,” the GM explained. “We are very pleased with our young core of Dennis Smith and Harrison Barnes and want to add another young player.