[EricaLubarsky]

Problem with Doncic is also the problem with Ayton and Bamba: the league is going in a direction that may really hinder them as players.

For Bamba and Ayton it's the fact that many teams are forgoing centers altogether and playing forwards at the center spot (6'10" Hortford, 6'9" Tristan Thompson, 6'10" Capela, 6'7" Green with 6'10" Durant next to him). No team in the finals this year is playing a true seven footer.

For Doncic it's about teams getting longer and faster. Teams have more players able to absolutely stifle the drive and interrupt passing lanes. That's going to be a huge and painful transition as he comes to the league. Euroleague may be physical, but the NBA is so much faster and longer. When I see Doncic make those moves in Euroleague I just try to think about him doing those things against some of the long, quick defenders in the NBA.

Then again, BBIQ and craftiness can overcome most defense. Transcendent players change the trend or at least buck the trend. Dirk was slow, had a relatively small wingspan, and seemed like a fossil from a prior era and yet he brought back a whole style of play.