Home Basketball ‘He needs a break’: Mavericks’ Luka Doncic eager to get ‘deserved’ rest after long stint of competitive basketball

‘He needs a break’: Mavericks’ Luka Doncic eager to get ‘deserved’ rest after long stint of competitive basketball

Basketball — 07/08/2024

Beginning with the FIBA World Cup, Luka Doncic has played a lot of basketball since last summer, then the Dallas Mavericks’ season culminating in an NBA Finals run. Doncic promised to play for the Slovenian national team at the Olympic qualifier, even though 15 days had passed following Game 5 against the Boston Celtics and he had to play Croatia at Peace and Friendship Stadium.

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Doncic had 21 points, seven rebounds, and five assists against Greece; nevertheless, the gifted team headed by tournament MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo proved too much to handle in the 93-65 loss. Using 6-foot-7 Josh Nebo as centre, the tiny Slovenian team battled to guard the paint in this event. Two others who battled coming off ACL rupture were Vlatko Cancar and Edo Muric.

FIBA

Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks Slovenia, Olympic Qualifiers FIBA / “Congratulations to Greece. Above all, they had a terrific squad with Giannis and many other stars and an amazing coach; they were better, more rested, more aggressive,” Doncic added. “We came here for the Olympic Games, hence a defeat is a failing result. We regretfully came across a better opponent.”

Doncic naturally feels “very tired after playing over 100 games since August,” but he will be able to relax soon. Though it fell short in previous attempts, Slovenia was trying for first time ever to qualify for consecutive Olympic visits. In these three games he still averaged 27.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 8.3 assists.

Greece end Olympic hopes of Slovenia and Luka Doncic in basketball qualifiers | The Straits Times

“I have behind me a long and demanding season. I am conscious that I could offer more of myself in a different state, but at the same time I am quite exhausted.” Doncic stated. “Now I have a deserved respite waiting for me; next year, I will have a new national team campaign in the European Championship.”

Aleksander Sekulic, head coach of Slovenia, commended Doncic for representing his country following an NBA season of such length. For Doncic, the choice to just take a vacation to relax and worry about vying with the national team later was logical; he chose differently.

“First of all, when we talk about the Slovenian national team, we always have to talk about Luka Doncic because that’s the way it is, and that’s beyond that he’s a superstar,” Sekulic explained. “After having a lengthy season, sacrificing his leisure time to play for Slovenia, he is a fantastic guy representing the national team. Regarding the team [or] the roster, we do not currently find ourselves in a fantastic state. Though he came to provide everything he had to help the squad, we have issues of our own.

Doncic has a whole NBA season to worry about first, but he is already excited about playing with Slovenia in EuroBasket next summer. With a training camp with the Mavericks scheduled for late September, he will have more than two months to rehabilitate free from Olympic competition.