NBA Draft: 2019 prospect Goga Bitadze breaks Luka Doncic’s record

NBA Draft prospect Goga Bitadze broke one of Luka Doncic’s EuroLeague records this season. Find out more about the productive big man here.

The NBA Draft was a home run for the Dallas Mavericks in 2018. The Mavs used two trades to draft four players. They moved up to secure the services of Luka Doncic before using a high second-round selection on Jalen Brunson. Both of those players feel like staples of the Mavericks roster for the next decade-plus.

Dallas also selected Kostas Antetokounmpo and Ray Spalding in the late second round.

It is almost draft time again. Mavs fans are looking forward to the lottery on May 14. There they will find out if they keep their first-round pick or it heads to Atlanta as part of the Doncic deal.

If the Mavericks retain the selection, it will fall in the top-four. Fans are dreaming of winning the lottery and drafting Zion Williamson to pair with Luka and Kristaps Porzingis as the best young core in the NBA.

Draft night is June 20. The early entrants are already in, though. A 19-year-old prospect named Goga Bitadze stands out despite not getting a ton of hype.

Breaks Luka’s record

Bitadze is a 19-year-old big man. He is from the country of Georgia and has played professional basketball since 2015. This season, Goga Bitadze produced 13.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game in 23.6 minutes a night over 43 games.

More impressively, he broke the record for top PER by a teenager in EuroLeague history, according to Hoops Rumors. Luka Doncic had set that mark in the 2017-2018 season.

Bitadze is a player to keep an eye on in this draft. He is projected as a top-20 selection, but someone could be getting a steal. The NBA has seen plenty of productive big men from overseas in recent season, and Bitadze could be the next in that list.

Final thoughts

Dallas Mavericks standout Luka Doncic had his record for best PER by a teenager in EuroLeague history broken by Goga Bitadze. Bitadze has declared for the 2019 NBA Draft in June and is someone to watch.

The Mavericks will be interested in the 19-year-old center if he falls into the second round. Bitadze is too productive and skilled to make it that far, though.

Dallas Mavericks fans should buckle up because this offseason is going to be one of the ages. There are storylines around every corner, so please continue checking back with The Smoking Cuban.