The 2023 FIBA World Cup has witnessed some major upsets leading up to the Finals matchup. From the favorites, Team USA, to the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander-led Team Canada, the prestigious tournament has seen several dreams for the gold medal get crushed. One such was the Luka Doncic-led Team Slovenia. However, the Dallas Mavericks star seems to have found a silver lining in his team’s disappointing run.

Team Slovenia got off to a flying start in their FIBA World Cup campaign. Luka Doncic carried the team on its unbeaten streak in the group stages, persevering through sleepless nights and heavy legs. However, some major upsets in the knockout stages concluded their dominant run abruptly. Although the team suffered a disappointing fate, their 24-year-old phenom, Doncic has ended the tournament on a high note.

Luka Doncic shines even on his exit

Team Slovenia suffered a disappointing fate that crushed their hopes for a medal in the FIBA World Cup. After dropping three games consecutively, the team had to settle for the 7th or 8th place in the tournament while competing against Team Italy. This is when Doncic decided to end his grueling FIBA World Cup stint with a bang.

Luka Doncic put up a show as always even in his last FIBA World Cup game of this edition. The Slovenian star and his team faced a gritty opponent in the “greatest” Team Italy. However, this did not stop the 4-time NBA All-Star from casting his magic one last time in the prestigious tournament.

Doncic put up a near triple-double, going off for 29 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists. The Slovenian guard looked evidently exhausted but still put up this incredible performance. He led Team Slovenia to a hard-fought 89-85 victory, sealing their spot as the 7th-placed team. This only adds to his extraordinary run in the tournament averaging 27 PPG, 7.1 RPG, and 6.1 APG. He also joined the likes of his mentor, Dirk Nowitzki, and The Slim Reaper, Kevin Durant in the elite club of players to score over 200 points in a single FIBA World Cup edition.

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Although Doncic could not lead his team to a medal in the tournament, he finished his individual run on a high note. His team may have struggled in the knockout stages but the Mavericks guard persevered through it all to try and lead his team to glory. In fact, his relentless efforts came at the cost of his health and rest.

Health and sleep were a no-go for Doncic

Luka Doncic put up a remarkable effort to try to lead his team to their first-ever medal in the FIBA World Cup. However, his efforts did not come cheaply. The 24-year-old sacrificed his sleep and his physical health for national duty throughout the tournament. In a recent interview, Doncic revealed how his run in the World Cup has affected his health. “I haven’t slept much. The sensations are still very strange. The legs were heavy. I hope we play better in the next game. But we have to see how my leg will be”, said Doncic before his near triple-double performance against Team Italy.

He went on to mention his passion for representing his nation, saying “Whenever I can, I will play for the national team. There is no question for me. The crowd here is cheering for us, so the atmosphere is really great.”

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Luka Doncic may not have returned home with a FIBA World Cup medal, but the Slovenian guard put up his best efforts to secure one. Now, he has some greater responsibilities to take up in the NBA and the 2024 Paris Olympics. After his World Cup dismay, the 24-year-old would be more motivated than ever to achieve success in these high-stakes events.