Luka Doncic names the team he hopes to retire with, and it isn’t the Lakers

Luka Doncic cannot stay out of the spotlight. In his latest comments, the Slovenian phenom suggested that he could one day retire with Real Madrid, the team that launched his career. “Without a doubt. They raised me,” Doncic told The Wall Street Journal in a wide-ranging interview.

The 26-year-old has been a headline name since his teenage years, dazzling fans first in Europe and now in the NBA. He led Slovenia to gold at the 2017 EuroBasket, then won the 2018 EuroLeague title with Real Madrid before making the jump to the NBA that same year. Since arriving in the United States, he has piled up eye-popping numbers and individual honors, cementing his status as one of basketball’s true generational talents.

Luka Doncic: From Dallas hero to Los Angeles star

Doncic’s NBA journey took a dramatic turn this year when he was traded from the Dallas Mavericks, the team he had represented since 2018, to the Los Angeles Lakers. The move paired one of the league’s brightest stars with its most glamorous franchise and biggest media market, adding even more intrigue to his chase for a long-awaited first championship ring.

Despite Slovenia’s quarterfinal exit against defending champion Germany in the most recent EuroBasket, Doncic was again one of the tournament’s standout performers, reinforcing his reputation as a player who delivers on every stage.

Doncic’s lasting bond with Real Madrid

Even as he chases NBA glory, Doncic remains deeply connected to Real Madrid. He regularly watches their games from afar and visits the team whenever he returns to Spain. The last time he attended a game at Madrid’s Movistar Arena, he received a standing ovation from fans who still see him as one of their own.

Doncic often speaks glowingly about his former club, recalling the 2018 season when he not only captured the EuroLeague title but was named both regular-season and Final Four MVP. “To play there, you have to be very good,” he said with a smile.

NBA stars and the European dream

Doncic’s affection for his former team fits a long-running trend of NBA greats expressing interest in finishing their careers in Europe. Kevin Durant has repeatedly said he would love to play overseas and often attends EuroLeague games as a fan. Kobe Bryant once mused about retiring with Barcelona. Yet for all the admiration, those plans rarely materialize.

The NBA’s unmatched financial rewards and year-round spotlight usually keep even the most Europe-curious stars stateside. Whether Doncic eventually breaks that pattern remains to be seen, but his ties to Madrid ensure that possibility will continue to intrigue fans on both sides of the Atlantic.

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