As basketball continues to globalize, we’ll see more and more NBA stars participating in international competitions during the summer.
With the Lakers now transitioning into the Luka Dončić era, fans will have to get used to watching their superstar play for Slovenia during the offseason.
While some people might feel uneasy about their top player participating in non-NBA games, the Lakers are fully supporting Luka’s mission to win EuroBasket for Slovenia.
Lakers Governor Jeanie Buss and the President
of Basketball Operations, Rob Pelinka, were both in attendance for Slovenia’s last practice before EuroBasket play begins for the country on Thursday against Poland.
In case Pelinka’s presence isn’t enough, his words to the media made it clear the Lakers are in full support of Luka playing in EuroBasket 2025.
The Luka and Lakers partnership has just begun, and it’s great that they are working in collaboration to ensure he can play for Slovenia and is not only allowed, but also supported, to do so.
With Lakers assistant Greg St. Jean on the Slovenian staff, it gives the Lakers someone on the bench they know and trust that has Luka’s best interest in mind.
It’s excellent that Luka’s passion for basketball is so strong that he always opts to play for Slovenia whenever he can. Obviously, any time you play there is risk for injury, but that’s also true if Luka were doing pickup games or was even working out, for that matter.
At least these are high-intensity games, and while EuroBasket is not at the same level as the NBA, the competition is better than anything Luka would face in a summer open run.
While a small minority might still feel uneasy about Luka playing for Slovenia, everything we’ve heard and seen this summer has indicated he is focused and committed to the Lakers.
He has already signed an extension with the team, has been doing insane summer workouts, getting in the best shape of his life, and now, he’ll be playing in EuroBasket and giving Lakers fans an appetizer of what’s to come this fall.
Ideally, Luka plays well, Slovenia advances far and he is not only healthy but hitting the ground running once training camp begins in September.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
