The Slovenian national team is ramping up for EuroBasket 2025, with their opener against Poland in Katowice drawing intense attention to Luka Dončić and how far Slovenia can go in a stacked group. Dončić took part in the official pre-event press conference, sharing his excitement about representing his country and the importance of staying healthy to play.
“Very excited to be here, always a pleasure to represent my country. It’s an easy choice, and I always did, no matter what. Obviously, if I’m injured, I’m not gonna play, but if I’m healthy, I will always play. We are prepared, together in this, can’t wait to start,” Dončić said.
Dončić is no stranger to success on the continental stage, having helped Slovenia win EuroBasket in 2017 and then finish sixth in 2022. Asked what’s changed since his last EuroBasket appearance, he offered a pragmatic answer about growth and aging: “I don’t know, trying to improve every day. I’m getting older, three more years have passed, but not much has changed for me.”
The star’s presence drew strong support from the Los Angeles Lakers, with both general manager Rob Pelinka and owner Jeanie Buss traveling to Poland to back their franchise centerpiece. Pelinka lauded the relationship between the Lakers and the Slovenian program, underscoring the pride the organization takes in Dončić’s role with Slovenia.
“It’s great to be associated with the Slovenian national team,” Pelinka said. “The entire Lakers franchise is extremely proud of everything Luka does with this team, everything they do together for this country. We wanted to travel here to be here to show our support. We followed the national team’s training. It seems that they are completely focused on getting their first win in the tournament tomorrow against Poland.”
Pelinka also emphasized Laker backing as part of a long-term view: “Jeanie and I talked to Luka, and he realizes that he is the leader of this team. He quickly lets you know how much pride he feels in the national team jersey. He is very close to his teammates. We are aware that he is the first star of this national team; we believe in that too. We have worked a lot with the national team. As long as he feels the passion for the basketball he plays, it can only be good. I think everyone should follow that, whether it is music, art, sports, or anything. We would never interfere with that.”
Looking ahead to next season, Pelinka hinted at a broader Lakers plan to become a title contender around Dončić and LeBron James, mentioning additions like Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart as key pieces while acknowledging that Dončić’s priority now is Slovenia’s EuroBasket run: “Absolutely, the title next year is our plan. With Dončić and LeBron, we have two top players; now we want to build a real team around them. It was good to see new basketball players coming to training camp. Deandre Ayton is a great reinforcement, and such a center will be key for Luka’s passes. Marcus Smart will contribute on defense. But first, we want Luka to focus completely on this tournament with Slovenia. Then he can focus on the Lakers again.”
In the meantime, Slovenia faces France and others in a group battle that includes a formidable frontline, as France captain Guerschon Yabusele noted. “I don’t think our goal is to watch how his body changes over the summer. It’s not just about Luka. There are a lot of tough teams in our group, so we’re focused on ourselves,” Yabusele said, with France seen as the team to beat in the group.
Summary and outlook: All signs point to Slovenia aiming to start strong in Katowice, with Dončić at the helm and renewed backing from the Lakers behind him. The combination of a proven leader, strong national program, and NBA support creates a hopeful backdrop for Slovenia’s EuroBasket campaign.
Additional value: The collaboration between Dončić’s national-team commitments and Lakers ambitions highlights a broader trend in international basketball—top players balancing national pride with NBA careers, which can elevate both their home programs and the competition level in continental tournaments. If Slovenia can leverage this momentum, it could boost the development pipeline for Slovenian basketball and inspire a new generation of players in the country.
Optional hopeful note: Fans can look forward to an exciting EuroBasket run, with a leader who has already tasted continental success and a stronger support system behind him than ever before.