Luka Dončić led Slovenia into the 2025 EuroBasket, and the world witnessed the debut of his new physique. He made a massive impression with newfound defensive abilities. His agility enabled him to cover more ground and enhance his perimeter defense, which was his greatest weakness as a player.
Group play began on Aug. 28, and Dončić looked spectacular against Poland with 34 points, nine assists, and four rebounds. It wasn’t enough as Slovenia lost 105-95, and dropped the following matchup to France 103-95.
The losing streak triggered a shift in Slovenia’s locker room, and they came out with a different level of intensity for the remainder of the group phase. They defeated Belgium, Iceland, and Israel, with Dončić dominating all three countries.
A battle ensued with Deni Avdija in the final game of group play. The 23-year-old Israeli finished with 34 points, nine rebounds, and two assists. It was a very dynamic match-up, with Dončić matching his intensity. He finished with a game-high 37 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists.
By this point, it was clear that Luka was the best player in the EuroBasket tournament. Some high-stakes play with his familiar Slovenian teammates proved to be just the juice he needed to reignite his NBA MVP-caliber play. Now that the Lakers know Luka is locked in, the onus shifts towards them to build a contender around their future superstar.
An Italian Dream & German Nightmare
With an improved 3-2 record, the Slovenian national team was determined to bring home the 2025 EuroBasket trophy. They were matched up with Italy in the first round, who were tremendous in group play with a 4-1 record.
Dončić wasn’t phased by the moment, and the former EuroLeague MVP exploded for 42 points. Miami Heat forward Simone Fontecchio scored 22 points for Italy, but his efforts were in vain, losing to Slovenia 84-77. It was a massive confidence booster for the +120 underdog, and their reward was a match-up with Germany.
Dennis Schröder and Franz Wagner would be too much for Slovenia, combining for 43 points. Their conjoined efforts were met with endless veracity from Dončić, who fought until the very end with 39 points on his own. The -700 favorites defeated Slovenia 99-91, and eventually became the champions of the 2025 EuroBasket.
It was their first EuroBasket title win since 1993, and Schröder was crowned tournament MVP. The experience produced many narratives heading into the 2025-26 season, but the main discussion coming out of the tournament was Dončić’s incredible performance. He was named one of the All-Star five, solidifying an emphatic display of Basketball ahead of a highly anticipated season.
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Assessing Dončić’s Tremendous Growth
Dončić’s growth on the defensive end has been sensational, and it has increased his potential exponentially. At 26 years old, he still has much to learn and could become a high-level defender in the coming years. Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka expressed excitement to see Dončić this year after witnessing his performance in Europe.
“Luka’s play in [the] EuroBasket made it clear to the entire basketball world that he’s on that incredibly short list of ‘best player on the planet’ candidates, if not at the top,” Pelinka said. “If there are smart ways to pour into our championship aspirations for next year, we will execute on those.”
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The logical next step for the Lakers will be to extend Austin Reaves‘ contract, ensuring they have their star backcourt secured for the remainder of the decade. His contract situation has been widely discussed on various prominent Lakers podcasts, with analysts attempting to predict how much he will earn.
Reaves signed a team-friendly $53 million deal in 2023, and his performance during the 2024-25 season has certainly earned him a raise. As a combo guard averaging 20.2 points per game with strong playmaking skills, he is the ideal co-star for Dončić. While some are skeptical about their defensive pairing, Dončić’s improvements on defense have positively transformed their dynamic together.
Fall Has Officially Begun
It’s very encouraging as training camp is set to begin for a pivotal season in Los Angeles. Obviously, Dončić will have a tremendous season, especially after such a successful EuroBasket, but a paradigm shift is about to occur in the locker room.
Considering LeBron James’ contract situation, this may be his final year in L.A. or in professional basketball altogether. The funds that could have gone to James this summer are likely to be allocated to Reaves for an extension.
Pelinka must prioritize their new acquisitions as well, especially Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart. Both will receive raises after their current contracts and will play massive roles in Dončić’s core for the future.
He is signed for the next four years, so the 2025-26 season will serve as a test for the new roster. ESPN predicts they’ll finish 50-32, but they could easily increase their win total to 55-58 with the ‘new Luka’ at the helm.
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