Earlier this month, Ballislife posted a 10-minute video to YouTube of edited footage from the Elite Open Run featuring some names you’ll recognize, like the NBA Rookie of the Year Luka Doncic.
Look no further than the first few seconds as Doncic threads a dime between his defender’s legs to a cutting teammate in the lane, leading to an easy bucket at the rim. And that’s even before the opening credits.
The rest of the video doesn’t focus on Doncic only, though. Monta Ellis, Wesley Matthews and other pros played in the game, and there are plenty of highlights to go around.
Dunks, threes, high-level moves, alley-oops and more happened in the game. Don’t let that get to your head too much; you should not expect to see the same intensity you would on an NBA floor. These guys know this isn’t for keeps. But watching some of the best in the world fly around a court with a ball in their hands is always a good time.
The Spin on Luka Doncic
The Atlanta Hawks selected Doncic third overall in the 2018 NBA Draft, then swiftly traded him to the Dallas Mavericks for the rights to Trae Young, who Dallas drafted fifth overall, and a protected future first round pick in 2019. For the Mavs, there was no question that he was their guy.
“Luka Doncic was the guy we targeted to get in this draft if there was any way possible to do it,” Dallas head coach Rick Carlisle told Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today in 2018. “At one point, we thought there might be a slight chance he could fall to us, but a couple of days ago it was pretty clear that there was no way that was going to happen. He’s just too good. We get a guy we think is franchise foundation piece.”
The Slovenian backed up Carlisle’s confidence in a big way in his rookie campaign, averaging 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6.0 assists per contest, asserting himself as one of the league’s offensive juggernauts. He was rewarded with the Rookie of the Year distinction and looks to be one of the NBA’s bright stars of tomorrow.
