Luka Dončić (born February 28, 1999 in Ljubljana, Slovenia) is a Slovenian professional basketball player who plays as a guard/forward for the NBA Dallas Mavericks.
Luka Doncic began his career with Real Madrid Basketball Club in the Spanish League. In the 2018 NBA Draft, Luka Doncic was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the 3rd pick in the first round, and then traded to the Dallas Mavericks, and was named the All-Rookie in the 2018-19 season and named to the All-Rookie First Team; Named to the All-Star Western Conference starting lineup and All-Star First Team in the 2019-20 season; 2020-21 All-Star Western Conference starting lineup and All-Star First Team; 2021-22 All-Star Bench and All-NBA First Team; In 2022-23, he was named to the All-Star Western Conference starting team and the All-Star First Team.
In September 2017, Luca Doncic represented the Slovenian national team at the European Championship. In the summer of 2021, Luka Doncic made his first appearance at the Tokyo Olympics with the Slovenian men's basketball team.
On October 23, 2022, the Lone Ranger defeated the Grizzlies. Doncic played 30 minutes and scored 32 points, breaking the 7,000-point mark in his career.
On October 26, 2022, the Lone Rangers lost to the Pelicans 111-113 on the road, and Doncic had 37 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals and 1 block. So far, in the first three games of the season, Doncic has cut a total of 100+ points, 25+ rebounds and 20+ assists, becoming the second player in league history to score this data in the first 3 games of the season, and the first player in the history of the Lone Rangers to score 30+ points in each of the first 3 games of the season.
On October 28, 2022, the Mavericks won 129-125 against the Nets after one overtime. Doncic hit 41 points, gave 14 assists, grabbed 11 rebounds and recorded a 40+ triple-double for the third time in his career, becoming the 10th player in NBA history to have at least three times a 40+ triple-double.
On October 30, 2022, the Lone Ranger lost to the Thunder 111-117, and Doncic scored 31 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists and 1 steal, including 16 rebounds that were also Doncic's season high.
On October 31, 2022, the Lone Rangers beat the Magic 114-105 at home, Doncic cut 44 points and 5 assists, scoring a season high, and the first player in league history to score at least 200 points + 50 rebounds + 50 assists in the first six games of the season. Doncic, meanwhile, has a total of 220 points in his first six games, the highest score a player has scored in the first six games of the season since Jordan (231) in 1986-87.
On November 3, 2022, the Lone Rangers beat the Jazz 103-100 at home, Doncic scored 33 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists, becoming the first player since Wilt Chamberlain in 1962-63 to score 30+ points in the first seven games of the new season. On November 5, the Lone Rangers narrowly defeated the Raptors by one point at home, Doncic cut 35 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals, cutting 30+ in the eighth consecutive game of the season, equalling Chamberlain in the 1959-60 season.
On November 8, 2022, against the Nets, Doncic scored 36 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals and 1 block, scoring 30+ points in the ninth consecutive game of the season, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain's second-time record in 1959-60.
On November 13, 2022, the Lone Ranger defeated the Blazers 117-112, and Doncic had a super triple-double of 42 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists, and a 40+ triple-double for the fourth time in his career.
On November 19, 2022, the Lone Rangers defeated the Nuggets 127-99 at home, and Doncic recorded a triple-double of 33 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists, becoming the 10th player in NBA history to achieve 50 triple-doubles.
On November 24, 2022, the Lone Ranger lost to the Celtics 112-125, Doncic cut 42 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists, surpassing James in 280 games (311 games), becoming the second fastest player in NBA history to unlock 7,500 points, 2,000 rebounds and 2,000 assists. On November 30, the Lone Ranger narrowly defeated the Warriors, Doncic posted 41 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists and 4 steals, and scored at least 35 points for the 13th time in his career, tying James and Chamberlain for fourth all-time, and becoming the 10th player in the NBA to record 40+ triple-doubles and at least 4 steals since the steal count began in 1973.
On December 2, 2022, in the Lone Ranger's away game against the Pistons, Doncic hit 35 points, 5 rebounds and 10 assists, surpassing Brad Davis in career scoring and rising to seventh in Lone Ranger history. On December 6, the Lone Ranger won 130-111 at home against the Suns, Doncic scored 33 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks, achieving at least 20 points and 5 assists in 22 consecutive games in the opening season, equalling Harden's NBA record in 2017-18.
On December 7, the Lone Rangers beat the Nuggets 116-115 on the road, and Doncic scored his 52nd career triple-double. In the NBA-recorded first 300 career games, Doncic's statistic equaled "Magic" Johnson and tied for second all-time. On December 13, the Lone Ranger hosted the Thunder, Doncic cut 38 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists, achieving 20+ points in 34 consecutive games, tied with Mark Aguire for the most in team history. It was also Doncic's 37th double-double with at least 35 points in a single game in his NBA career, tied with Nowitzki for first place in team history. On December 15, the Lone Rangers lost 90-105 to the Cavaliers, Doncic scored 30 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal and 1 block, achieving at least 20 points in 35 consecutive games, surpassing Mark Aguirre and setting the longest consecutive 20+ record in team history.
On December 24, the Lone Ranger defeated the Rockets 112-106, Doncic had 50 points, 8 rebounds, 10 assists and 3 steals, 50 points was also his season high. With this performance, Doncic became only the second player in the history of the Lone Rangers to achieve 50+ in a single game multiple times. On December 26, the Lone Ranger defeated the Lakers 124-115, Doncic scored 32 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists and 2 steals, setting a record for the highest score of a Lone Ranger player in the Christmas game with 32 points. On December 27, Doncic was named Western Conference Player of the Week for week 10 of the NBA. On December 28, the Mavericks narrowly defeated the Knicks 126-121 at home. Doncic shot 21 of 31, 2 of 6 from three-point range, 16 of 22 from the free throw line, 60 points, 21 rebounds, 10 assists and 2 steals, setting a single-game scoring record in the history of the Lone Ranger, and became the first player in history to hit 60+20+10, the youngest Mr. 50+ triple-double in history, the second player to score a 60+ triple-double after Harden, and the third player to score 50+20+10 in a single game after Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor.
On Dec. 30, the Mavericks beat the Rockets 129-114 at home. Doncic had 35 points, 12 rebounds, 13 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks, and gave a total of 2,395 assists in his career, surpassing Michael Finley and rising to ninth in team history. So far, Doncic has scored a total of 95 points, 33 rebounds and 23 assists in the past two games, becoming the first player in NBA history to cut at least 95 points, 20 rebounds and 20 assists in any two consecutive games.
On January 1, 2023, the Mavericks narrowly defeated the Spurs 126-125 on the road. Doncic played 37 minutes, shooting 18-of-29 from the field, scoring 51 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists and 4 steals, scoring at least 40 points in a single game for the 23rd time in his career, surpassing Mark Aguire (22) to rank first in team history, and becoming the first player in NBA history to score at least 250 points, 50 rebounds and 50 assists in five consecutive games, and the second player since the league merged, after Jordan in 1990, to average at least 45 points per game in five consecutive games and shoot at least 59%. On January 3, Doncic was named NBA Player of the Week 11 Western Conference with a 3-0 record, averaging 48.7 points, 13 rebounds and 10.7 assists. On January 4, Doncic was named NBA's Western Conference Player of the Month for December 2022.
On January 11, the Lone Rangers lost 101-113 to the Clippers. Doncic scored 43 points and cut 40+ against the Clippers for the eighth time in his career (regular season + playoffs), surpassing Kobe and Durant, ranking first in NBA history. On January 13, the Lone Rangers won 119-115 away from the Lakers. Doncic had 35 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists and 1 steal, averaging 40.2 points per game in the last 10 games, becoming the first player in NBA history to average 40+10+8 in 10 games, and the first player under the age of 24 to average 40+ in 10 consecutive games since Jordan in 1986. On January 21, the Mavericks beat the Heat 115-90 at home. Doncic chipped in 34 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists and 1 steal, leading the team in points, rebounds and assists for the 20th time in his career. On January 27, Doncic was selected as the 2023 NBA Western Conference All-Star Game starter, surpassing Nowitzki's 2 All-Star appearances with 3 All-Star starts, occupying the first place in team history, and 4-time All-Star selection, tied with Rolando Blackman for the second in team history.
On February 3, 2023, the Lone Ranger played against the Pelicans. Doncic played 22 minutes and 54 seconds, scoring 31 points, 8 boards and 4 assists, setting a career record for the fewest 30+ minutes per game.
On February 12, 2023, the Lone Rangers lost 128-133 away to the Kings. Doncic returned after missing four consecutive games due to a right heel contusion, finishing with 27 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
On February 24, 2023, the Mavericks defeated the Spurs 142-116. Doncic made 1 of 6 three-pointers and made 870 career three-point attempts, tying Michael Finley and tied for third in the history of the Lone Ranger.
On March 9, 2023, the Lone Rangers challenged the Pelicans on the road, and Doncic suffered discomfort in his left thigh in the second half. The Lone Ranger officially announced that Doncic suffered a strain on his left thigh.
On March 23, 2023, the Lone Ranger lost 125-127 at home to the Warriors, and Doncic, who missed five consecutive games due to a left thigh strain, ushered in a comeback, cutting 30 points, 7 rebounds and 17 assists. It was Doncic's 41st 30+ cut this season, surpassing Mark Aguire (1983-84, 40 30+) to become the Lone Ranger's all-time 30+ cut in a single season.
On April 2, 2023, the Lone Ranger lost 122-129 to the Heat, and Doncic hit a free throw in the first quarter, breaking the 9,000-point mark in his career total, becoming the 7th player in the history of the Lone Ranger to score 9,000+.
On May 11, 2023, the NBA officially announced the best team for the regular season, and Doncic was selected to the first team, becoming the fourth player in NBA history to be selected for the first team of the year four times before the age of 25. He was selected to the first team four times in his Lone Ranger career, tied with Nowitzki for the first place in team history.
In the 2022-23 season, Doncic averaged 32.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 1.4 steals per game (including a career-high average in points per game), played 60+20+10 for the first time in his career, and his steals and shooting percentage were also career highs, and became the second player in history to average 32+8+8 per game in a single season.
In 2014, Luca Doncic was selected for the Slovenian Under-16 national team and was included in the squad for the European Under-16 Championship, but was unable to participate due to injury.
On September 18, 2017, Luca Doncic helped the Slovenian national team win the European Championship for the first time in history with a 93-85 victory over Serbia in the final of the European Men's Basketball Championship. Doncic landed defensively in the third quarter of the game and stepped on teammate Randolph's sprained ankle, scoring eight points and seven rebounds. Doncic averaged 14.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.3 blocks in nine games in the European Men's Basketball Championship, shooting 40.6% from the field, 31.1% from three-point range and 84.8% from the free throw line, helping Slovenia win all 9 games and being named to the European Men's Basketball Championship All-NBA team.
On July 5, 2021, Luka Doncic led the Slovenian men's basketball team to the Olympic Games for the first time.
On July 26, 2021, Slovenia defeated the Argentina men's basketball team 118-100 in the men's basketball group stage of the Tokyo Olympics. Doncic shot 18-of-29 from the field, 6-of-14 from three-point range, and finished with 48 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and three blocks. Doncic's 48 points also broke Yao's previous highest score for an NBA player against New Zealand at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
On August 5, 2021, France defeated Slovenia 90-89 to advance to the final. Doncic had 16 points, 10 rebounds and 18 assists, earning his first triple-double in Olympic court and the third in Olympic history, becoming the first player to record an Olympic triple-double since James in 2012.
On August 7, 2021, Doncic's Slovenian men's basketball team participated in the men's bronze medal game in basketball at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, losing to Australia and finishing fourth.
In June 2022, Luca Doncic was named in Slovenia's 15-man squad for the World Qualifiers.
Euro 2022 (8 photos)
In July 2022, Doncic was named to Slovenia's 20-man squad for the European Championship.
In August 2022, Doncic was named to the 12-man roster for the Slovenian men's European Basketball Championship. On September 8, Slovenia defeated France 88-82 in Group B of the European Championship group stage to secure the first place in the group. Doncic exploded 47 points, 7 boards, 5 assists and 1 steal, 47 points for the second highest score in European Championship history.