When the Dallas Mavericks decided to trade up for the Slovenian wunderkind, Luka Doncic, in the 2018 NBA Draft, it was for his offensive potential, not his defense. Much has been made of Doncic’s lack of athleticism which if we’re being precise is mostly just a lack of lateral quickness and this deficiency was thought by many pundits to secure Doncic’s place as a liability on the defensive end.
Fans have read plenty of things about how the athletes in the NBA would consistently blow by him. Detractors pointed to a leaked video of Dennis Smith Jr.