Luka Dončić became the fourth player to record a triple-double in FIBA EuroBasket history, tallying 26 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists in Slovenia’s 86-69 win over Belgium in the international tournament on Sunday.
Dončić’s performance was especially urgent for Slovenia, which faced being eliminated from the tournament after losing its first two games, including Saturday’s 103-95 defeat to France. That loss occurred despite Dončić scoring 39 points and nearly notching a triple-double with eight rebounds and eight assists.
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However, France has four NBA players on its roster in Zacchaire Risacher, Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly and Guerschon Yabusele, while Dončić is the only NBA star on Slovenia’s roster.
Slovenia winning its next three games was required to emerge from group play. Sunday’s win began that upward climb. In three games, Dončić is averaging 33 points, 7.3 rebounds, 9.7 assists and 3.3 steals.
Dončić playing in the 2025 EuroBasket tournament raised some eyebrows after he signed a three-year, $155 million extension with the Los Angeles Lakers, officially cutting the ribbon on being the present and future star of the team, as LeBron James’ prospects past this season are uncertain.
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Those concerns heightened after Dončić appeared to injure his knee when his leg collided with a teammate’s during a EuroBasket exhibition. He briefly left the game but soon returned and was kept from playing more by the Slovenia medical staff.
Despite avoiding serious injury, that scare stoked fears that the Lakers’ new investment would be lost playing overseas. Yet Lakers team governor Jeanie Buss and president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka traveled to Poland to watch Dončić, indicating the franchise fully supported his desire to represent his country in international play.
“Zero problems,” Pelinka told The Athletic’s Dan Woike. “I mean, it’s just something that we believe in for the Lakers organization.”
it’s just great to see him with his teammates, interacting, having fun,” he added. “He is in great shape, really committed to working hard this summer, and to be able to watch that in person was worth flying over the ocean to come be with him.”
Playing competitively this summer to maintain his conditioning and keep his skills sharp is likely a factor in why the Lakers are fine with Dončić playing in EuroBasket. His physical shape has been the story of his — and the Lakers’ — offseason. In addition to workouts, the seven-year veteran changed his diet to eliminate gluten and lessen sugar intake, according to Men’s Health.
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His weight and ability to stay on the floor to provide even a slight defensive presence, especially late in the season and during the playoffs, were the target of scrutiny and criticism throughout his career with the Dallas Mavericks. The team’s concern about that was presumably a reason he was traded to the Lakers in a deal that is still shocking seven months later.
Up next for Dončić and Slovenia is a matchup with Iceland on Tuesday at 8 a.m. ET.
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