Luka Doncic Named MVP as Real Madrid Wins Euroleague Championship vs. Fenerbahce

Adam Wells @adamwells1985Featured ColumnistMay 20, 2018

Fenerbahce's Kostas Sloukas dribbles the ball as Real Madrid's Luka Doncic reaches for the ball during their Final Four Euroleague final basketball match between Real Madrid and Fenerbahce in Belgrade, Serbia, Sunday, May 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Darko Vojinovic/Associated Press

Luka Doncic, the potential No. 1 pick in next month's NBA draft, capped off his MVP season by leading Real Madrid to a Euroleague championship with an 85-80 win over Fenerbahce.

#CHAMP10NS 🏆🏀 @RMBaloncesto
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 #CHAMP10NS | #HalaMadrid https://t.co/fEq2WBpwMw

At 19 years old, Doncic became the youngest MVP in Euroleague history. The Slovenian superstar hasn't committed to playing for an NBA team next season, but this would be a perfect way to cap off his three years with Real Madrid after going for 15 points, four assists and three rebounds.

Doncic was named Final Four MVP after the game as well, per Euroleague.

While all eyes were on Doncic, Fabien Causeur nearly stole the show for Real Madrid. He scored a team-high 17 points and was a perfect 3-of-3 from three-point range.

As impressive as Doncic and Real Madrid have been all year, Fenerbahce was the defending champion and finished this season with the league's best defense by points allowed (73.6 per game).

Doncic rebounded nicely after shooting just 4-of-12 in the semifinals against CSKA Moscow. Most of his scoring Sunday came from the free-throw line because of his ability to attack Fenerbahce at the basket.

The 2017-18 Euroleague MVP made as many free throws (eight) as he attempted field goals.

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The Athletic's Tim Faklis did have fun with Doncic's ability to generate foul calls from officials:

Tim Faklis @timfaklis
Doncic already has a strong flopping game.

Projecting Doncic into the NBA, Ben Dowsett of Basketball Insiders noted the types of defenders who will give him trouble early in his career:

Ben Dowsett @Ben_Dowsett
Doncic is definitely going to have plenty of moments in his first few NBA years where Pat Beverley/Tony Allen types absolutely lock him up and make him look silly with the ball...and people are gonna use those clips to call him a bust and it'll be sooooo annoying.

ESPN's Jonathan Givony, on the other hand, has no problems predicting stardom for Doncic:

Jonathan Givony @DraftExpress
European champion, Euroleague champion, Euroleague MVP, Euroleague Final Four MVP (now official). Not sure what else 19-year old Luka Doncic can do to prove himself as an elite NBA prospect, besides possibly jumping over a car in a dunk contest. Someone's getting a player June 21 https://t.co/rVjiGoRAG5

Real Madrid was the aggressor early, highlighted by Rudy Fernandez's steal that led to Jeffery Taylor's slam and a six-point lead:

EuroLeague @EuroLeague
The steal from @rudy5fernandez leads to the Taylor SLAM! #7DAYSMagicMoment #F4GLORY https://t.co/yS55Dn3Tf8

Despite the overall strength of Fenerbahce's defense, neither team had much success shutting down the other. Both teams made at least 50 percent of their field-goal attempts. Real Madrid used its ability to generate fouls to have a significant edge in free throws made (26 to 17) and attempted (34 to 20).

The third quarter also turned the tide in Real Madrid's favor with a 25-15 scoring advantage resulting in an eight-point lead.

Lost in Real Madrid's celebration was Nicolo Melli doing everything in his power to carry Fenerbahce. The Italian star led all players with 28 points.

If this was Doncic's final game for Real Madrid, he couldn't have gone out on a higher note. Winning a championship and being named regular-season and Final Four MVP would be impossible to top.

Real Madrid is the franchise by which all other Euroleague franchises are measured. This was its 10th championship win—most all time—and first since the 2014-15 season.