Luka Dončić to Compete for Slovenia in EuroBasket 2025
Luka Dončić, the Los Angeles Lakers’ star player, is set to proudly compete for Slovenia in the 2025 EuroBasket tournament, a decision fully backed by the Lakers organization. Team governor Jeanie Buss and basketball operations president Rob Pelinka made the trip to Poland to witness Dončić and the Slovenian national team during their final practice session before the tournament kicks off.
Commitment to Country
In expressing his commitment to represent Slovenia, Dončić remarked,
“It’s an easy choice for me. I have always had the desire to play for my country. As long as I’m healthy, I will take the opportunity to play, but if I sustain an injury, I won’t participate.”
Pelinka reassured that supporting Dončić in this venture is a crucial gesture from the franchise, especially for a player who symbolizes the team.
“We felt it was important for Luka to know that we stand behind him in his commitment to his country. It’s vital, particularly when we have a player of his caliber leading our franchise, to demonstrate our support,”
said Pelinka.
Support from the Lakers Organization
Alongside Buss and Pelinka were notable figures such as Kurt and Linda Rambis, along with the Lakers’ director of player performance and health, Dr. Leroy Sims. While preparations were underway, Dončić experienced a minor knee tweak during warm-ups, but he has since been medically cleared, a circumstance that has not raised concerns for the Lakers’ management.
Pelinka observed the positive energy surrounding Dončić as he connected with his teammates, highlighting the hard work he has put in this offseason to enhance his conditioning for the upcoming NBA season.
“Seeing him bond with his teammates and having fun was certainly worth our effort to travel across the ocean to support him,”
he stated.
Recent Achievements and Future Prospects
Recently, Dončić secured a lucrative three-year contract extension worth $165 million with the Lakers after his significant trade to the team last season, which sent Anthony Davis alongside others to the Dallas Mavericks for Dončić and two other players. In the past season, Dončić recorded impressive averages of 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game, both during his tenure with the Mavericks and the Lakers.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks entered the lottery and secured the first overall pick for the 2025 NBA Draft, selecting top prospect Cooper Flagg from Duke.
As the Lakers maintain their championship focus, their endorsement of Dončić’s participation in EuroBasket remains steadfast, reflecting their investment in his health and performance as he prepares for the upcoming 2025-26 NBA season.
