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SAITAMA, JAPAN – AUGUST 01: Luka Doncic #77 of Team Slovenia celebrates after Slovenia defeated Team Spain in a Men’s Basketball Preliminary Round Group C game at Saitama Super Arena on August 01, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
via Getty
SAITAMA, JAPAN – AUGUST 01: Luka Doncic #77 of Team Slovenia celebrates after Slovenia defeated Team Spain in a Men’s Basketball Preliminary Round Group C game at Saitama Super Arena on August 01, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Luka Doncic’s done it again, snagging the Slovenian Sports Personality of the Year award for the sixth year straight. Chosen by the folks over at Ekipa, this just cements his spot as a true national treasure. When it came time to hand over the award, Doncic didn’t just accept it anywhere—he brought the crew to the legendary Tivoli Hall, where he’s been grinding through his final practice sessions before bouncing back to the States. The vibe was electric—Doncic, in the middle of a spot that built him, was all smiles, full of energy, and looking sharp as ever. Dude’s more than locked in for the new season.
With the new season coming up, all eyes are on Luka Doncic, and Gilbert Arenas is hyping him up big time. On Gil’s Arena podcast, Arenas straight-up called it, saying Doncic’s gonna average a triple-double. “I would be surprised if he doesn’t average a triple-double. If you were averaging so many assists with what you had, and now you have a guy who is a specialist in long-range shooting. Some of your assists will come effortlessly this time,” Gil said.
Arenas didn’t stop there—he put Doncic at the top for MVP, saying, “He will probably be the number one MVP candidate. He’s going to do something that hasn’t been done in a few years, and that is to average a triple-double.” Some fans are hyped, already imagining Luka making history, while others are playing it cool, not sure he can live up to all that.
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One fan didn’t hold back, posting, “Pogacar got robbed,” capturing the heated vibes around this year’s Slovenian Sports Personality of the Year award. Tadej Pogacar, the cycling beast, had a killer season, locking down his fifth win at the Tour de France with an “out of this world” performance, almost snatching his third title. He left guys like Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel in the dust, cementing his legendary status in cycling. But, when it comes to comparing athletes across different sports, it’s always up for debate—especially since Luka Doncic also put up a stellar performance this year. Let’s look into more reactions.
“totally healthy??“-Fans react to Luka Doncic’s Slovenian honor
Another fan threw out the question, “Is his knee totally healthy?” Luka Doncic sprained his knee in Game 3 against the Clippers last playoffs, and even though he kept pushing through, the injury’s been a lingering worry. His performance took a hit after the sprain, too. Plus, he had to get a pain-killing shot for his thoracic contusion before Game 2 of the finals against Boston to numb his back, and he was also dealing with ankle soreness. Even though we haven’t heard any fresh injury updates, it’s tough not to wonder if these issues are still hanging around.
On the bright side, it’s not all doubts and worries—Luka Doncic’s got a ton of fans backing him up. One fan dropped, “Luka the goat 🐐💪🏽,” and even though he’s only 25 and has a lot of career left, some folks are already calling him a legend. It’s easy to see why with his insane stats. Remember that jaw-dropping 73-point game he dropped on the Hawks last season? It was straight-up fire. Luka also averaged over 33 points, 9 rebounds, and nearly 10 assists last year, and his game just keeps leveling up. With those kinds of numbers, it’s not a shocker that fans are already chatting about him in the GOAT conversation, either now or down the road.
One netizen dropped, “Luka got a vase! Good job 👏👏👏,” and it seems like they’re low-key throwing shade at Doncic’s Slovenian award, hinting that it’s not a big deal for someone of his level. It might come off as a bit petty, especially when you consider the player’s place as one of the top players in the world’s best league. Another thing they could likely be hinting at is the shape of the award resembling a vase. But hey, it’s important to remember that honor is still honor.
For Doncic, who’s still shining despite all the competition, this recognition is a meaningful nod to his hard work and roots. It’s not about whether the award seems small or big—it’s about the respect and pride behind it and the 25-year-old definitely values that.
