Mavericks: If this is sophomore Luka Doncic, what is his ceiling?

Defense

Luka Doncic’s biggest knocks coming out of the draft were his lack of speed and his defense. He has already exceeded expectations on both fronts. Doncic is not the fastest player in the NBA, but he stands out in his ability to cut on a dime and change speeds.

The 21-year-old uses his elite basketball IQ and size to hold his own on the defensive end of the floor. The Mavericks do a fantastic job of giving Luka the matchup he needs. They do not want him guarding James Harden or LeBron James types. Doncic needs to run the offense. The Mavs cannot risk wearing him down chasing elite scorers on the other end of the floor.

Luka could still make improvements in his defense. He is an exceptional rebounder, but it would not be a surprise to see him average over ten per game in a season during his peak. Doncic could also defend better on the perimeter.

There is room to grow in creating steals too. He averages 1.1 steals per game for his career. Forcing a few more turnovers is always advantageous.

Luka is far from a negative on the defensive end of the floor, but making small strides in this area is necessary for the Mavericks to join the ranks of the yearly title contenders. It also pushes Doncic further up the latter of top talents.

Next: Ceiling