If you want to beat Slovenia, the number one job is to stop Luka Doncic. Germany, who will be aiming to do just that in the EuroBasket quarterfinals, know exactly the threat the Los Angeles Lakers star poses.
“You can’t stop him. You have to find ways to beat the team,” Germany point guard Maodo Lo said ahead of the match.
“We’ll see how much we can limit him. We’ll have a few ideas,” added interim head coach Alan Ibrahimagic. “But we’re not playing against Luka Doncic, we’re playing against Slovenia.”
The NBA playmaker is the heart and soul of Slovenia. In their Round of 16 victory over Italy, he had 42 points and 10 rebounds. The 26-year-old has averaged 34 points, 8.3 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 3.2 steals per game – all top-ten figures during the tournament.
NBA Rookie of the Year
Luka Doncic comes by his basketball talent naturally – father Sasa Doncic was also a professional player who represented Slovenia. In 2018, coming off a season in which he was named MVP of the both the EuroLeague and the EuroLeague Final Four, Doncic moved across the pond to join the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks.
In his debut season, he averaged 21.2 points, seven rebounds, and six assists per game – earning him the NBA Rookie of the Year award.
In his 450 NBA regular-season games, Doncic has averaged 28.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game. He has achieved a triple-double over 80 times, something most NBA players achieve only a few times, if at all, in an entire career.
Complete offensive player, defensively flawed
Doncic is known for his skill with the ball, his long-range shooting, and his ability to outwit multiple opponents when driving to the basket. Offensively only his free-throw percentage leaves room for improvement.
His defensive game, though, is another story. Here, he has faced criticism for not getting back down the court enough to defend his own basket – something that has led to discussion about his fitness. Listed at 230 pounds on his 6’6″ frame, questions have also been asked about the Slovenian’s weight.
“It’s really hard to always give it your all on both ends of the court,” he once conceded in an interview.
Doncic is a polarizing figure who often infuriates opponents and fans alike with his on-court behavior, often arguing calls with the officials.
“I complain way too much,” he once said – apparently without figuring out how to curb the practice.
In February of this year, the Mavs shocked NBA fans by sending Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in a three-team trade. It seemed that not only were Dallas management dissatisfied with Doncic’s work defensively, but with his deal set to expire, they also wanted to avoid having to sign him to a “supermax” contract that would have cost them a whopping $345 million through 2030.
Controversial trade to the Lakers
The trade shook the entire league with NBA stars like Joel Embiid, Kevin Durant, and Devin Booker expressing dismay that the Mavericks would give up a player considered the cornerstone of the franchise.
“Everything is even crazier than before. If someone like that can be traded, no one is safe anymore,” Germany’s Dennis Schröder said at the time, comparing North American professional sports, in which trades are commonplace, to “modern-day slavery.”
Doncic’s deep emotional connection to the Mavericks was evident upon his return to Dallas two months later. Before the match, the Mavericks honored their former star with a video that brought tears to Doncic’s eyes.
But all his emotion didn’t stop him from scoring 45 points in the Lakers’ 112-97 victory.
Renewed motivation despite no ‘supermax’ payoff
The Slovenian has since come to terms with his new situation and signed a new three-year, $165 million contract with the Lakers [having been traded, he had lost his eligibility for a “supermax” contract].
“I’m just very happy to be here,” Doncic said after signing. “This is the Lakers organization – one of the best teams in history.”
His renewed motivation led to him working hard to improve his fitness and athleticism over the summer.
“I’ll obviously be a little faster next season,” he joked at a recent press conference.
For now, though, it’s the Slovenian national basketball team who stand to benefit from his improved fitness as they look to win a second European Championship after last lifting the trophy in 2017. First they will need to get past Germany, and Doncic is not taking Wednesday night’s quarterfinal opponents lightly.
“They’re playing unbelievably,” he said. “We actually have to play a perfect game to beat them.”
The Germans believe they have a good chance – even against a perfect Doncic.
“No matter how outstanding he is: He can’t beat a team on his own,” Germany coach Ibrahimagic said.
This article was originally published in German.
Edited by: Jonathan Harding
