Potential International lineup for Team USA vs World future All-Star Game format
By Ben Handler
Starting Guard: Luka Doncic, Slovenia
Luka is an obvious choice to spearhead this team from a ballhandling standpoint. This team is heavy on big men, so it will fall on Luka to control the ball and playmake from the perimeter - something he’s more than comfortable doing.
Doncic is tied for third in the MVP race this season and he’s averaging 34.1 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 9.8 assists per game. The toughest adjustment for Luka would likely be sharing the ball more. He’d have to scale back his ridiculous 36.1 usage rate on a team full of superstars.
He is obviously more than capable of spacing the floor as a shooter and would be deadly working out of the second side, and being able to attack a defense that is already in rotation. There would be less defensive attention on Luka than he has ever experienced and if he’s patient he should be able to dramatically up his efficiency.
He may have his hands full on the defensive end, as he’ll be forced to keep pace with faster, smaller players who can handle the ball and blow by him with athleticism. There will be nobody for Luka to hide on and he’ll have to hold his own. But he’ll be surrounded by elite defenders and dominant rim protectors who should be able to bail him out.