Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic is playing for Slovenia this summer as he attempts to lead his country to an Olympics berth. Competing in these high-level games just weeks removed from the NBA Finals, Doncic had very little time off between his injury-riddled playoff run and international play.
This dynamic has made Doncic's decision to play for Slovenia this summer very controversial among Mavericks fans, as many feel he should be using this time to rest instead of continuing to play high-intensity games.
Issuing a strong statement on his decision to compete for the Olympics this summer, Doncic explained how much it means to him:
"We're two million," Doncic said of Slovenia's population, per BasketNews. "Representing this country means everything to me. I want to say thank you to Dallas. They let me play, and they never have problems with this. They always know I'm going to play, so it's a big honor for me."
As previously mentioned, this decision has been very controversial among Mavericks fans, with multiple Dallas media members attempting to put Doncic's decision into perspective for those upset about it:
As Doncic emphasized, the Mavericks organization has no issue with him playing for his country, but many fans are concerned for his health. Having dealt with multiple injuries throughout the 2024 NBA Playoffs, Doncic was never fully healthy, but was able to stay on the court for his teammates.
There is no guarantee Slovenia qualifies for the Paris Olympics, but Doncic will do all he can to lead his team to an Olympics berth.
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