Luka Doncic returned to international play in peak form, steering Slovenia to the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 quarterfinals and recording some of the tournament’s top individual numbers. The Los Angeles Lakers star took the floor at Spodek Arena in Katowice, Poland, beginning with a Sept. 4 group-stage meeting against Israel and continued his surge through the knockout rounds.
Historic production
Over Slovenia’s six games, Doncic averaged 34.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 3.2 steals. His 36.7 efficiency rating, 34.0 points and 3.2 steals per contest led all EuroBasket participants through the quarterfinal round, while his assists ranked second. He shot 65.4 percent in true-shooting efficiency.
Slovenia advanced out of Group D, defeated Italy in the Round of 16 and fell to Germany by eight points in the quarterfinals. Team metrics underscored Doncic’s impact: the Slovenians posted a 125.4 offensive rating and 117.5 defensive rating with him on the court, compared with 104.0 and 129.7, respectively, when he sat—good for a plus-7.9 net rating versus minus-25.7.
Contract extension reshapes Lakers strategy
Los Angeles spent much of the summer avoiding salary commitments beyond the 2025-26 season, mindful that Doncic held a player option and could reach unrestricted free agency in 2026. That stance shifted after the 25-year-old guard agreed to an extension in August, binding him to the franchise for at least three additional years and making him eligible to re-enter free agency in 2028. The new deal has reportedly made the Lakers more open to trades and longer-term contracts.
FIBA has released a compilation of Doncic’s EuroBasket highlights, showcasing the off-season conditioning work that followed the Lakers’ first-round playoff exit to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Source: Lakers Nation
