Why Does Luka Doncic Never Miss FIBA Tournaments?

The FIBA World Cup has set the basketball world ablaze in the past month. The prestigious tournament is set to witness an epic battle between 32 nations to bag the coveted gold medal. These national sides feature several NBA talents who will look to bring glory to their nation. Among them is the Slovenian phenom, Luka Doncic.

European players have taken the NBA by storm with their talents over the years. These players have often emerged as franchise players for their respective teams. Luka Doncic, too, is one such European legend. While serving as a franchise player can be an exhausting task, Doncic has never let it come in the way of his national duty. The Dallas Mavericks star has played every international tournament his nation has qualified for. But why does Luka Doncic never miss FIBA Tournaments?

Luka Doncic’s love for National tournaments

Luka Doncic’s admiration for European basketball and his undying competitive spirit has prompted his regular appearance in international tournaments for the Slovenian side. Despite his stature in the NBA, Doncic has never compromised on his duty to his nation. While several European athletes have skipped international tournaments citing injuries or workload, Doncic has made it a habit to participate in any event he can to represent his national side.

Luka Doncic has often stated his love for European basketball despite playing in the NBA. He has also declared that he watched EuroLeague games more than NBA games.

Furthermore, the one-game-knockout format of the FIBA Eurobasket tickles the competitive spirit of the Mavericks guard. These could be some of the reasons he chooses to never miss the FIBA Eurobasket tournaments.

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Additionally, he might also be drawn to international competitions due to the fans that these games bring in. The atmosphere and hype created by these fans can certainly enhance any sporting experience, especially while representing one’s nation. Therefore, Doncic finds international competitions more riveting. However, there is more to Doncic’s love for international tournaments than just this.

Doncic shares a deeper connection with international tournaments

Luka Doncic is one of the most consistent performer in the international circuit for several years. Surprisingly, he also does not miss an opportunity to play for his national side. While his competitiveness and fan’s admiration play a crucial role in his consistency in these tournaments, another reason can be his friendship with several international basketball stars.

Doncic is close friends with his Balkan counterparts in the NBA, Nikola Jokic and Boban Marjanovic. Most certainly, playing your favourite sport against your best friends can make the whole experience better. Then comes his Slovenian national side, whom he calls his brothers. The international tournaments serve as a perfect reunion with his “brothers” in this case.

Finally, one of the most significant reasons why Doncic never misses FIBA Tournaments simply boils down to patriotism. The 24-year-old comes from a country with a population of just 2M people. In a small country like Slovenia, Doncic and his teammates are considered heroes for their achievements on the international stage. This only enhances the honor of representing the nation.

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Luka Doncic has yet again lived up to his reputation of never missing a FIBA tournament by getting himself ready for the 2023 FIBA World Cup. Team Slovenia is all set to take on the world for the coveted gold medal. Obviously, the team would rely heavily on the services of their best player, Doncic.