NBA Draft Prospect Luka Doncic Named 2017-18 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague MVP

At age 19, Luka Doncic is the youngest EuroLeague MVP in history.

The Real Madrid guard and potential No. 1 overall pick in June's NBA draft was named the Most Valuable Player on Saturday, a day after his 16-point, seven-rebound performance helped his club reach the championship game.

Doncic, who turned 19 in February, is four years younger than the previous youngest winner of the award (Milos Teodosic, 2010). He averaged 16.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game while continuing to develop his reputation as perhaps the best European prospect in history. Doncic's season has gone so well that he's not 100 percent committed to joining the NBA in 2018-19.

"Ι'm not sure if these are the last two games [in Europe]," Doncic told reporters. "We have yet to make this decision. Perhaps after the season."

Doncic is under contract with Real Madrid for the next three years, so he will have to pay a buyout to join his NBA team. The NBA restricts how much a club can contribute to a player's buyout with another franchise because it could be seen as additional compensation.

Either way, the Phoenix Suns are expected to choose between Doncic and Arizona big man Deandre Ayton with the top overall selection. Ayton comes with none of the contractual baggage and is seen as a can't-miss, generational rim protector in the middle. 

But anyone who has doubted Doncic's ability to compete at the highest level hasn't been watching. EuroLeague is the second-most competitive basketball organization in the world. His nightly competition is better than any collegiate player's, and he's been a pro for years. 

Doncic might not become the best player in basketball, but his hype is warranted.