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NBA DRAFTJune 21, 2018Luka DoncicBrooklyn, New York LUKA DONCIC: It feels amazing just to be an NBA player. It feels amazing. I'm just happy to attend the draft, and I'm very happy to be a part of the Dallas family. Q. The last year or so having won multiple championships, MVP awards and now being a high lottery pick in the draft, what has this last year been like for you? LUKA DONCIC: Honestly, it's like a dream. It's like a dream. I've been dreaming about being a EuroLeague champion, being a European team champion, being drafted. All this year has been like a dream. Q. Tell me your thoughts on the possibility of playing with Dennis Smith, Jr., and what do you know about the Mavericks as far as Dirk Nowitzki? LUKA DONCIC: Yeah, I saw a lot of Dennis. He's an amazing player. He's an amazing point guard. And of course Dirk Nowitzki, he is example for everybody. He's achieved so much. He's a legend. He's a leader. So I'm really glad that I can be there. Q. Did you have a chance to come and work out with the Mavericks any? LUKA DONCIC: No, I was playing finals in Spain, so I didn't work out for anybody. Q. Were you surprised about the trade? LUKA DONCIC: No, I've been talking to Dallas a lot. They really wanted me, and they were very, very nice. They were very nice to me, and I think we had a very good relationship. Q. What are you most excited about in playing in the NBA? LUKA DONCIC: You know, just playing, again, all these superstars like LeBron, Stephen, KD, Harden, playing against these superstars. I think that's the most exciting thing that I can say. Q. Talk about your success over in Europe, EuroLeague MVP and how that high level of success will translate to the NBA game? LUKA DONCIC: I think it will happen. I've been professional since I was 15. I played against EuroLeague stars, against ex-NBA players. I had four or five players on my team that played in the NBA. They've been talking about the NBA to me a lot through this year. So I think I'm prepared. Q. A lot of people have compared your career arc to Drazen Petrovic. What are your thoughts on that? LUKA DONCIC: Drazen was an amazing, amazing player. I've seen a lot of videos of him. If I would be like Drazen, it would be amazing. But I need to work more. I need to work more. I need to work harder, and I need to put a lot of work if I want to be like Drazen. Q. Have you followed Yugoslavia basketball growing up? Obviously you were born past that era, but do you consider yourself like a historian in Yugoslavian basketball? LUKA DONCIC: In Yugoslavia we had some amazing players, and we still have. There's a lot of players in NBA, too, like (Nikola) Jokic, (Milos) Teodosic, have a lot of Yugoslavia players, and I think I can be part of that, yeah. Q. Were you disappointed you didn't end up getting picked by a Slovenian national team coach (Phoenix's Igor Kokoskov) or playing under Peja Stojakovic or Vlade Divac in Sacramento? LUKA DONCIC: I'm going to text him later and say I'm mad at him. No, I'm kidding. It's amazing for me to be third pick, and as I said, it was a dream come true. Q. You said a couple days ago that it was a goal for you to play for the next window for Slovenia. Are you still planning on playing with the national team in 10 days? LUKA DONCIC: I don't know. I will talk to my team. If they let me or they don't, we'll discuss that and come to the conclusion. FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports   |
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