By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Returning to the senior national team of Slovenia following a grueling campaign with the Dallas Mavericks, Luka Doncic talked about his feelings toward representing his country.
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“It is always an honor when I play for Slovenia,” he stressed in a press conference on Thursday, “Whenever I can, I will play. I’ve been saying this all the time.”
Doncic, 25, reported to help Slovenia reach the 2024 Olympic Games. Ranking first in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Piraeus over host Greece, Croatia, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, and New Zealand is the task at hand. A few weeks after falling to the Boston Celtics in the 2024 NBA Finals presented by YouTube TV, the tournament will be played from July 2 to 7. Before the trip to Greece, he will also play a prep game against Brazil in Arena Stozice on Friday.
“It was really hard to decide to play now, because of the injuries and the length of the season, but here I am,” explained the Slovenia captain.
“I did not think about it much. I knew that in the end, I would be part of the national team,” he added, “During the Playoffs, I focused on Dallas and the games, but I knew how it would be. The Mavericks know I will always play if I can.”
After advancing to the 2020 Olympic Games held in 2021 via the OQT in Kaunas, Slovenia hopes for more of the same in Greece. Playing for the hosts of the tournament, Giannis Antetokounmpo is among NBA superstars in his way.
“I do not think there is an answer on how to stop him. We all know what kind of player he is,” mentioned Doncic, “We can only try to limit his contributions.”