Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic joined the Slovenian national team practice session in Dallas on Monday after their recent 92-86 loss to Lithuania in Vilnius. The team is preparing for upcoming games, including trimming their roster from 15 to 12 players before traveling to Piraeus. Only one naturalized player can be included in the final squad, which means either Josh Nebo or Mike Tobey will make the cut.
Though Doncic’s official status hasn’t been confirmed, the Mavericks have indicated their belief that he will participate if physically able. During the NBA playoffs, Doncic managed injuries to his right knee, left ankle, and dealt with a thoracic contusion that required injections for pain relief.
Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison emphasized that playing for Slovenia brings Doncic immense joy, predicting he will play as long as he is physically capable. Slovenia has two remaining exhibition matches scheduled in Ljubljana: one against Lithuania on June 25, Slovenian National Day, and another versus Brazil on June 28.
In Greece, Slovenia’s Group Phase begins with a match against Croatia on July 2, featuring prominent players like Ivica Zubac, Dario Saric, and Mario Hezonja. The team’s final preliminary match before potential quarterfinals will be against New Zealand on July 4.
Should Slovenia advance far enough, Doncic could face off against Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Greece team in the Championship Game, with the winner securing a spot in the Paris Olympics. The tournament holds high stakes, with only the champion earning Olympic qualification.
