After Luka Doncic was traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers in February, questions arose about whether the Lakers would allow him to participate in international competitions for his native country, Slovenia. It has now been confirmed that Doncic will indeed play for Slovenia this summer, starting with their tournament opener against Poland on August 28. This confirms Luka Doncic to play for Slovenia in international tournaments once again.

Previous International Performances Highlight Doncic’s Role for Slovenia

Doncic has participated twice before in the Eurobasket championship. In 2022, he posted averages of 27.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 6.6 assists. Despite his strong performance, Slovenia was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Poland. Going further back, Slovenia triumphed in the 2017 Eurobasket tournament during Doncic’s debut with the national team, defeating the favored Serbian squad in the finals. That year, at only 18 years old, he played every game, averaging 14.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists, contributing significantly to the team’s success.

Swift Approval from Lakers Ensured Participation

Matej Erjavec, president of the Basketball Federation of Slovenia, revealed that the Lakers promptly approved Doncic’s participation after a brief discussion. Erjavec described a meeting with Lakers executive Rob Pelinka, stating,

“Within two minutes in a meeting with Rob Pelinka, he stressed, ‘Well, you will get Luka and one coach, and that’s it’. And with that, we were done,”

and added,

“There was no debate at all.”

This swift agreement removed any uncertainties about Doncic’s involvement in the Slovenian squad.

Significance of Doncic’s International Play for Slovenia

Luka Doncic’s presence is a critical boost for Slovenia’s chances in the upcoming tournament, given his proven track record and leadership. Having played at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games and Eurobasket tournaments, his experience against high-level international competition benefits the team greatly. Slovenia’s previous success, including the 2017 Eurobasket gold medal, underscores the importance of keeping top players like Doncic in their roster. The confirmation of his participation highlights a positive collaboration between the Lakers and Slovenia’s basketball federation, setting the stage for a competitive summer tournament.