Luka Doncic surprised a lot of fans, including the Dallas Mavericks faithful, by committing to play for Slovenia in the upcoming Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Some probably thought he would rather take the time to rest after a grueling season that saw him lead the Mavs to the Finals.
However, Matej Erjavec, the President of the Basketball Federation of Slovenia, said Doncic didn't even have to be persuaded to suit up for the national team. It was a different case in 2022 when the superstar decided to play at EuroBasket under one condition.
"We fulfilled it in 2022 when we had to install a card table in the bus," Erjavec said . "This was the only condition he set for participation in the national team."
Disappointment in Berlin
One of the most prestigious international competitions in the sport, EuroBasket draws the participation of many stars because pride is always at stake for the European nations.
Slovenia needed Doncic to suit up in 2022 because the field was as strong as ever, especially with the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic confirming their involvement in the tournament. Interestingly, the three European icons were named to the All-NBA First Team that year.
With "Luka Magic" putting on a show, Slovenia managed to top their group, which also consisted of Germany, France, and Lithuania. Unfortunately, they couldn't get past Poland in the quarterfinals and settled for a sixth-place finish. Still, the country is likely grateful for Doncic offering his services and that all it needed was a card table and not some other more difficult concession.
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Seeking redemption in Paris
The five-time NBA All-Star once again represented his nation in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, but the team's quest for gold ended in an eerily similar manner. It was eliminated in the quarterfinals before losing in the classification stage and finishing in seventh place. Consequently, it failed to qualify directly for the Olympics and will need to go through the qualifying tournament to earn a spot in the Paris Games.
Due to the luck of the draw, Slovenia was placed in the same tournament as the Antetokounmpo-led Greece. Fortunately for the squad, their superstar is more than ready to lead it. And according to Erjavec, the Mavs phenom had already committed before the NBA Finals.
Only time will tell if Slovenia can clinch a podium finish in the Olympics and win a medal for the first time ever.
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