“Doncic is unstoppable, he can crush anyone”

Luka Dončić’s Slovenia will make its EuroBasket debut this week in Poland, facing the host nation in Group D. For the 26-year-old point guard (1.98 m), it will be his third continental tournament — with the previous two yielding mixed results.

In his first, in 2017, he struck gold alongside Goran Dragić and Anthony Randolph, contributing solidly but not yet in full superstar mode: 14.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists for an 18.7 PIR. Five years later, in 2022, Slovenia finished sixth after falling in the quarterfinals to Poland, despite Dončić’s explosive play. He averaged 26 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 6.6 assists for a 27.1 PIR.

Now, three years later, he has maintained — and in many ways elevated — the lethal level that makes him one of the best players in the world. An NBA superstar who strikes fear in his opponents. “He’s unstoppable,” several EuroBasket stars told BasketNews.

“He can crush anyone... He has unique skills”

“He can crush anyone in a tournament. He can go for 50, 60... I don’t know. That’s what makes him special,” Serbia’s Bogdan Bogdanović told FIBA. “He’s different. He has unique skills and a unique mentality. I’ve faced him many times, and I feel lucky to have done so,” added Turkey’s Furkan Korkmaz.

“He’s special because he has everything. His basketball IQ and intuition are incredible. I spoke with a friend, and we agreed that players like him are born only once every 50 years,” said Poland’s Mateusz Ponitka.

Slovenia’s first opponent will be tournament runner-up Poland — a tricky matchup for a team arriving with more doubts than certainties. Their preparation phase ended with a 1-5 record, their lone win coming against Great Britain. Losses piled up twice against Germany and once each against Lithuania, Latvia, and Serbia.

That last one was particularly painful: a 34-point blowout (106–72). Dončić struggled, shooting just 4-for-18 (2-for-10 from deep), finishing with 17 points. According to BasketNews, he ended the game visibly frustrated with his teammates — a roster seen as too limited to seriously contend — and reportedly had a heated exchange with them in the locker room.

“I don’t like to talk about what happens within the team. Yes, we had a conversation, we clarified many things, and we said what needed to be said. That loss actually brought us closer,” said Slovenian forward Edo Murić, who highlighted Dončić’s growing leadership role.

“Yes, he’s becoming more vocal every year. That’s exactly what we need. He’s our leader, and that has to show both on and off the court. That’s why I say he’s maturing — he knows what he’s talking about, and it’s a real pleasure to follow him,” Murić added.

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“He’s much more vocal than before. He’s embraced the challenge of being the face of the team, both here and in the NBA. His words carry weight. And the passion he shows when he wears the Slovenia jersey — you don’t see that anywhere else. We’re witnessing signs of a new Luka. This is what the Lakers were probably hoping for, too. He’s the leader now, and his voice is what matters most,” agreed Klemen Prepelič.

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