Luka Doncic has been shining in EuroBasket 2025, serving to Slovenia attain the event’s spherical of 16.
Within the decisive recreation in opposition to Israel, the place Slovenia gained 106-96, Luka Doncic collected a double-double with 37 factors and 11 rebounds.
He additionally contributed 9 assists, falling one help in need of turning into solely the second participant with two triple-doubles in a single EuroBasket event.
His 36.4% capturing from past the arc marked his second-best proportion because the event started, recovering from struggles in earlier video games.
The victory left Doncic feeling optimistic about Slovenia’s event prospects. He delivered a powerful message after the sport, stating his bold targets with the nationwide group.
“We’re hoping for the medal. We expect we will win a medal. I do know loads of others don’t, however we consider in us. Everyone that’s right here, all of us consider, everybody in everybody. So, simply with head ahead,” he declared.
Doncic’s confidence displays his perception in Slovenia’s underdog potential, at the same time as many specialists query their medal credentials.
The Lakers star’s optimism comes regardless of dealing with more and more tough opponents within the knockout rounds, the place particular person expertise alone will not be enough in opposition to stronger collective groups.
Whereas nothing is inconceivable, successful EuroBasket 2025 presents a number of robust challenges for Doncic and Slovenia.
Italy awaits within the spherical of 16, providing comparable steadiness, however subsequent rounds characteristic extra daunting opponents.
If Slovenia advances previous Italy, they possible face Germany within the quarter-finals, adopted by powerhouses like France or Serbia within the semifinals.
These groups possess stronger collective expertise on paper in comparison with Slovenia’s roster building.
Doncic possesses the person expertise to vary video games single-handedly, however these opponents characteristic deeper, extra balanced lineups that would show overwhelming.
A profitable medal run would show ESPN insider Brian Windhorst’s early prediction fallacious, as he anticipated Slovenia to exit the event early.
Nonetheless, Slovenia stays aggressive with their bold goal, probably shocking opponents as one of many event’s strongest underdogs if Doncic maintains his dominant kind.
