By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
Interviewed by AS before the friendly tournament against the United States and Spain, Luka Doncic touched on several topics regarding the Slovenian national team, including last year’s early elimination against Poland at FIBA EuroBasket 2022.
“I disappointed my team. I let my whole country down. It was my fault”, he publicly admitted. However, he went on to say that he will always be available for his national team when needed. “I’ll be back. I will always play for Slovenia if I am not injured”, Luka Doncic added.
Addressing his recent change of shape ahead of the 2023 FIBA World Cup, the former Real Madrid player said he can’t wait for the most anticipated tournament of the year. “It has been a very long summer for me, but I am very happy to be back on track. I haven’t played since April 10, so I’m looking forward to it. The objective is the same as always: when I go to a championship, what I have in mind is to win it. Then what happens is another thing, but the objective is always that”, he stated.
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Moreover, in Japan and the Philippines, he will also be Slovenia’s captain. “It’s an honor, a moment of pride. We decided with the coach and the teammates. It’s not something new for me, I have already been the leader in the locker room of the team and also in the Mavericks. I don’t prepare for it in any special way, it’s not something you learn. If you have it, you have it. It will be difficult to replace Edo, the best guy in the entire dressing room, and Goran, who was the captain at EuroBasket 2017. They are two great players”, Luka Doncic said about his new role.
Playing the first phase in Okinawa, Slovenia is set to face Cape Verde, Georgia, and Venezuela in Group F at the 2023 FIBA World Cup. The 24-year-old generational talent will play its first-ever World Cup after dropping two triple-doubles in the friendly games ahead of it. At EuroBasket 2022, he averaged 26.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game.
PHOTO CREDIT: FIBA EuroBasket 2022