Luka Doncic has a successor playing for Baskonia: Stefan Joksimovic

The first victory of Kosner Baskonia since the arrival of Velimir Perasovic in his fourth stage at the helm of the team had a standout protagonist: Stefan Joksimovic. The young Slovenian prospect, standing at 2.01 meters and about to turn 18 years old — he will on November 16 — delivered his best performance in the Liga Endesa against the bottom team Kids&Us Manresa. He scored 15 points, with a shooting percentage of 4/7 from the field and 7/10 from the free-throw line, in addition to grabbing six rebounds, dishing out three assists, and achieving a valuation of 20 credits. During the 23 minutes and eight seconds he spent on the court, the Vitoria team achieved a favorable scoring run of 32 points.

His performance has allowed him to join a select group of players who reached similar records before turning 18. Joksimovic is the third youngest player under 18 to achieve this in ACB history, following Ricky Rubio and Luka Doncic.

Numbers within reach of very few

The 15 points scored against Manresa represent the fifth-best scoring mark for a player underage in the competition. The Slovenian matches the records of Carlos Alocén and Aday Mara. Ahead of them are Ricky Rubio with 25 points; Aitor Zárate and Luka Doncic, both with 23; and Juan Carlos Navarro with 17.

In terms of valuation, his 20 credits represent the sixth-best record among players who had not yet turned 18. Only Ricky Rubio and Luka Doncic surpass him, both with 34; Usman Garuba with 24; Michael Ruzic with 23; and Aday Mara with 22.

Born in Belgrade, where his father played, Joksimovic has become one of the most positive news stories amid the challenging situation facing Baskonia. His progress continues both in the Liga Endesa and in the EuroLeague. In the national competition, he averages 7.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and a valuation of 7.5. In Europe, he registers 5.2 points, 1.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 3.5 valuation credits.

His strengths and areas for improvement

The young talent stands out for his ability to outmaneuver defenders in one-on-one situations, as well as his power and skill in driving to the basket. His shooting percentages in two-point attempts are 60% in the ACB and 50% in the EuroLeague. Conversely, defense and outside shooting are two of his main areas needing improvement. In both competitions, he has a success rate of 25% and 26.3% from beyond the arc, respectively.

His understanding of the game, court vision, and height of 2.01 meters, which allows him to play as a ball handler, complete his main qualities. Competing against players of his age has been a challenge for some time. Last summer, he showcased his potential again by being named MVP of the U18 EuroBasket, a tournament in which he led Slovenia to the title. In the final, he scored 24 points and finished the championship with an average of 23.1.

Baskonia may find it difficult to retain him

His performance, physical attributes, and the potential attributed to him have turned Joksimovic into one of the most sought-after young Europeans by American universities. The Slovenian already rejected offers from major universities last summer to continue his development in Vitoria. He was also not tempted by the significant sums of money he could have earned across the Atlantic.

However, it seems very unlikely that Baskonia will be able to retain him beyond this season. His name already appears among the top candidates for the upcoming NBA draft, although there is still a long way to go before that event. Almost all specialized websites rank him among the top five picks. Some even place him in third position, only behind Tyran Stokes, a forward from the University of Kansas, and Jordan Smith Jr., a guard from Arkansas.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Luka Doncic tiene sucesor y juega en el Baskonia: Stefan Joksimovic