By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Luka Doncic has joined the Dallas Mavericks after a long summer with the Slovenian national team that included games for the 2023 World Cup Qualifiers defending the EuroBasket crown in Germany during the first half of September. It was the second straight offseason that the 23-year-old superstar spent practicing and playing games.
“There are a lot of feelings when you represent your country,” Doncic said during the Mavericks’ Media Day for 2022-23. “You basically give up your summer to play for your country. I really respect everybody who does that. It’s really hard. At some point, you have to go to practice but you want to be on a beach somewhere. But I always enjoyed every moment of playing for my national team.”
Doncic’s Slovenia was eliminated in the EuroBasket quarterfinals with a stunning loss to Poland. Since then, he found some time to rest ahead of the new season.
“I feel good,” Doncic said. “I was probably sleeping 13 – 14 hours per day. I’m great now.” He later added that he, Mavericks coach Jason Kidd and the rest of the staff will try to figure out a plan for him gradually get incorporated into the team.
What are Maverick’s goals for this campaign? The highest, according to Doncic. “For me, the goal is always the same for the team. We are trying to win the championship,” he said. “That’s the only goal we have. That’s the thing we’re going to work for.”