"Each year, sports fans witness a performance that someday we'll look back on as the moment that a star was born," which is the "spirit of achievement and arrival" that the American sports magazine honours.

The Breakout of the Year title winners in recent years been US NFL footballer Alvin Kamara, Cameroon basketball player Joel Embiid and Puerto Rican baseball player Francisco Lindor.

The Dallas Mavericks small forward, who made his debut in the US National Basketball Association (NBA) in 2018, was named NBA player of the month for October and November.

He also holds the record for the most triple-doubles by a player before his 21st birthday in NBA history and currently leads the NBA in triple-doubles.

After 19 games this season Dončić ranks third in the league in scoring (30.6 points), second in assists per game (9.6) and 15th in rebounding (9.9 rebounds per game).

Sports Illustrated will present the Breakout of the Year honour at its Sportsperson of the Year event in New York on 9 December.