How many languages can Luka Doncic speak?

He may only be 25 years old but Luka Doncic has managed to fit a lot in. His basketball career has taken him from his native Slovenia, to Spain, and on to the United States.

Doncic is regarded as one of the greatest European players of all time and now, already a five-time NBA All-Star, he is undoubtedly one of the best of his generation. His incredible basketball IQ has made him the cornerstone of the Dallas Mavericks’ offense and his off-court intelligence is just as apparent.

Doncic can speak four languages and was a fluent English speaker before signing for the Mavericks.

Growing up in Ljubljana he spoke Slovenian growing up, but also learnt how to speak Serbian from his father. At the age of 13 he moved to Spain to play for Real Madrid’s basketball team, soon becoming fluent in Spanish. When he moved to Dallas in 2018 he was able to utilise his English skills, which he had picked up in school back in Slovenia.

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Mavericks coach Jason Kidd paid tribute to Doncic earlier this year, shortly after the Slovenian’s 25th birthday.

“He enjoys the game, he loves to play the game. He’s emotional, he is fiery,” Kidd explained. “He believes he can take on the world and he can beat the world. And that’s what you want for your best player. At 25, he’s incredible.”

Doncic has been a key part of Dallas’ playoff push this season and was named on the shortlist for Most Valuable Player at the 2023/24 NBA Awards. However he faces a late fitness test to see if he can feature against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday.

Ahead of tip-off Luka Doncic is listed as ‘questionable’ on the league’s official injury report, suffering from a right knee sprain and soreness in his left ankle. Kidd will be desperate to have Doncic in the team as they head to Target Center but will be wary of provoking a more serious injury ahead of a potential NBA Finals series against the Boston Celtics next month.