Sasa Doncic says his son Luka is “still far” this legendary European player
The Los Angeles Lakers made one of the trades of the decade by bringing Luka Doncic to Crypto.com Arena and the Slovenian is fitting in perfectly in LA.
Luka Doncic was one of the most polarizing players in the game when he was a Dallas Maverick, but since being traded to one of the most historic franchises in the NBA, his stardom has multiplied exponentially. His No. 77 Lakers jersey is one of the most sold all over the globe, but his dad, Sasa, says he’s got a ways to go before he catches up to another European legend.
Luka, Jokic leading the new wave of European players
The skinny teenager who debuted professionally in Spain at 16, and won the Euroleague MVP at 19 has not just become one of the best European players in the game, but one of the best basketball players in the world. He came into the league six years ago, and all he’s done since is made five All-Star Games, five straight All-NBA First Teams and is coming off a run to the Finals last year.
Luka with the moonshot in OT! pic.twitter.com/MlylTwP501
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) March 7, 2025
He just turned 26 at the end of last month, and the Slovenian has now teamed up with what may be the greatest player ever in LeBron James. The Lakers have rocketed up the standings since Luka’s arrival, and are now battling for the second seed in the West as we head into the final stretch of the season.
Luka is now in the conversation with his teammate LeBron, with Nikola Jokic, with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Steph Curry for the best player in the game. While no one will argue with his inclusion in that group of players, his dad, Sasa, says there is still word to be done before he catches up to the level of Drzaen Petrovic.
Petrovic blazed the trail
“Drazen is Drazen. He is a legend. Luka is still far from that, but I believe he’s on the right path,” Sasa Doncic said. “I wouldn’t compare them; each one is among the best of their time. I’m just happy to see someone from Europe showing the world that great basketball was played and continues to be played here.”
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Drazen Petrovic was one of the first European stars to make a name for himself in the NBA. The Croatian played with Sibenks, Cibona and Real Madrid before coming to the NBA in 1989. He won two Euroleague title before joining the Portland Trail Blazers. He played two years in Portland before getting traded to the New Jersey Nets. That’s where his career blossomed and Petrovic became a worldwide name.
He made the All-NBA Third Team in 1993 before a tragic car accident took his life shortly after the end of the NBA season. Petorvic had his number 3 jersey retired by the Nets, and was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2002. He laid the way for many of the European players in the league today, much like Luka will do for the generations of foreign players to play in the NBA in the years to come.
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