'Wonder Boy' is the wild card of the NBA draft

He has marveled many with his array of basketball skills while becoming a legend in Europe, leaving an abundance of NBA personnel folks intrigued about drafting the wondrous Luka Doncic.

Yet the question NBA people wrestle with is how Doncic's talents will translate from the competition he faced as a force with Real Madrid to the NBA, with its more athletic and talented players.

The Slovenian playmaker nicknamed "Wonder Boy" has been linked to the Phoenix Suns, who have the first overall pick, because newly hired coach Igor Kokoskov coached Doncic on the Slovenia national team.

Doncic also has been linked to the Sacramento Kings, who have the second overall pick, because of team president Vlade Divac's affinity for European players.

Some mock drafts have him going fourth to the Memphis Grizzlies or fifth to the Dallas Mavericks.

Either way, Doncic is expected to be drafted in the top five.

"He definitely is going to be a good NBA player. The question is how high is the ceiling that he has," said a Western Conference executive. "But right now, he has been playing pro in Europe for a couple of years and he's a little bit ahead of everybody."

And that teenager already has impressive credentials.

Doncic was named the Euroleague most valuable player after leading Real Madrid to the championship last month, and he earned the Final Four MVP in the process, making him the youngest player to receive that honor.

In 69 games in Europe this season — 50 as a starter — he averaged 14.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists, displaying an all-around skill set NBA people find attractive.

Along with the Miami Heat's Goran Dragic, Doncic helped Slovenia win its first European basketball championship in 2017.

Few expect Doncic to be a sensation in his first season in the NBA, or even his second. But they see loads of potential and that's why they rave about him.

Doncic has been listed anywhere from 6 feet 6 to 6-8. He has played point guard, shooting guard and point forward.

Most NBA executives don't see Doncic as having the quickness or athleticism to play point guard. They don't see him as a knock-down shooter: He made only 31.6 percent of his three-point shots.

For all his promise, they also notice some holes in Doncic's game.

"He's not that athletic. He can't really get by people on the bounce," said an Eastern Conference executive. "But if you draft him up there high, expecting him to be a franchise player, you'll be disappointed because he's not that kind of athlete. He can't carry the day like that.