Baba Miller got picked by the Clippers in the second round Wednesday night. Within minutes, he was talking about Luka Doncic.
The 6-foot-11 Spanish forward went No. 36 overall out of Cincinnati, a versatile frontcourt guy with roots in Real Madrid’s system. And that’s where the Doncic connection comes in.
The NBA posted Miller’s post-draft comments on social media. He didn’t dance around it. He straight up said Doncic is the player he looks up to most.
“I look up to, I’ll probably say Luka,” Miller said. “He obviously grew up in the Real Madrid system, same as me. Everybody has their unique characteristics.”
Miller came up through Real Madrid’s youth program before heading to the States. Doncic did the same path a few years earlier. Won EuroLeague MVP. Then became an NBA superstar. So yeah, the comparison makes sense, even if Miller’s got a long way to go before sniffing that level.
Real Madrid Pipeline Keeps Producing
It’s not just the Doncic thing. Miller is the latest in a steady stream of Real Madrid products making the jump. The Clippers grabbed him with the 36th pick, which feels like decent value for a guy his size who can move. He’s not a finished product by any means. But you can see the outline of something useful.
Miller spent two years at Cincinnati after leaving Spain. His numbers weren’t eye-popping. He averaged around 9 points and 5 rebounds. But scouts like his feel for the game and his ability to guard multiple positions. In today’s NBA, that’s a ticket to playing time if you can hit an open three.
He’ll get a chance to develop behind a veteran Clippers frontcourt. LA’s roster has some guys with expiring deals, and the team is always looking for cheap young talent to fill out the back end. Miller could carve out a role if he shoots it well enough.
As for the Doncic fandom? That’s not going anywhere. Miller clearly models his game after the Lakers star. And honestly, if you’re a 6-foot-11 forward who grew up in Real Madrid, who else would you pick?
The story is still developing. More details on Miller’s signing and summer league plans expected in the coming days.
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