Doncic’s Sudden Injury Sparks Concern: Will EuroBasket Become a Headache for the Lakers’ Preparation?

 Yesterday, the Lakers suddenly received a piece of worrying news. In a friendly game between Slovenia and Latvia, Luka Dončić’s knee was accidentally crushed when a teammate fell on him. From the first footage released at the scene, Luka was clearly in pain, and shortly after the incident, he exited the game.

Fortunately, although the moment looked scary, medical re-examination today confirmed that the injury was not serious. Dončić only suffered a right knee contusion, and he is already expected to return to team training on Monday local time. This update was also confirmed by multiple Lakers beat reporters.

Since entering the NBA, many have questioned Dončić’s offseason lifestyle habits, criticizing him for showing up to training camp out of shape. In some seasons, Luka needed the first half of the regular season to play himself into form and drop weight; in others, his insufficient conditioning in the summer led to noticeable fatigue late in the year.

However, many of Dončić’s critics overlook another storyline of his offseason — the national team version of Luka. While it’s fair to point out his issues with fitness management, his passion and commitment to representing Slovenia have never been in doubt.

Back in 2017, Dončić had already joined Slovenia’s senior national team. That year, alongside Goran Dragić, he led the underdog team all the way to the top of Europe. One reason Luka became a household name even before entering the NBA was, of course, his generational talent, but the other was his breakout performance in that EuroBasket.

For various reasons, it wasn’t until four years later that Dončić returned to the international stage. In July 2021, during the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, Slovenia faced a gauntlet of tough opponents. But years of NBA experience had sharpened Luka into a dominant force, and on the international court, many opponents felt his terrifying “playing down a level” dominance. In a do-or-die qualification game, he stunned everyone with a triple-double of 31 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists, carrying Slovenia to the Olympics — a career highlight in his national team journey.

Since that summer of 2021, playing international tournaments has become a routine part of Luka’s offseasons. Though team results haven’t always been ideal, Luka has shown a stubborn determination to keep fighting, no matter how many setbacks he faced.

At the Tokyo Olympics, Dončić played six games and averaged an almost unstoppable stat line of 23.8 points, 9.5 assists, and 9.7 rebounds. However, Slovenia fell to France in the semifinals under intense defensive pressure, and then lost to Australia in the bronze medal game, narrowly missing the podium.

In EuroBasket 2022, Luka returned with renewed determination, averaging 26 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 6.6 assists. Yet in the quarterfinals, Slovenia was upset by Poland, considered only a mid-tier European team.

In the 2023 FIBA World Cup, Slovenia swept their first-round group, but once again Luka was relentlessly double-teamed, and the team finished only seventh. Fast forward to 2024, another Olympic year — this time, Luka bowed out against Giannis Antetokounmpo and Greece, failing to reach the Olympics again.

Still, since the age of 18, Luka has deeply understood his responsibility to the national team. Even after entering the NBA and becoming the centerpiece of his franchise, bearing heavy workloads, his attitude toward international play has remained unwavering: if called, he will answer.

This summer, Luka maintained that same stance.

But unlike past years, his decision now carries more controversy. After all, this summer Dončić signed an extension with the Lakers. Officially, the franchise has turned a new page with Luka as the team’s central figure. To facilitate a smooth transition of power, Lakers management even risked alienating LeBron James.

In roster building, the Lakers have fully respected Luka’s input. After last season, Dončić openly stated the team lacked a reliable center, consistent three-point shooting, and a strong perimeter defender. Accordingly, this summer they added Deandre Ayton, Jake LaRavia, and Marcus Smart — all aligned with Luka’s requests.

Whether Dončić can lead the Lakers back to contention has become one of the league’s biggest storylines. The NBA schedule release confirmed that the Lakers remain one of the teams with the most nationally televised games. In preseason MVP forecasts, Luka is widely viewed as the only player with a realistic chance to challenge Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić, potentially emerging as the dark horse to win the award.

Dončić’s intense offseason training has fueled even more expectations. Since entering the league, Luka has never approached a summer with such seriousness and discipline.

But all of this — the hard work, the hype, the spotlight — depends on one fundamental condition: health. That is why Luka’s sudden injury yesterday was the last thing he, the Lakers, or the NBA wanted to see.

Perhaps moving forward, Luka will approach friendly games with more caution. But since he has not chosen to withdraw from the national team, he will undoubtedly go all out in the upcoming EuroBasket.

Yet Luka’s enthusiasm for EuroBasket may not fully align with the Lakers’ perspective. According to the schedule, EuroBasket tips off on August 27 and runs for half a month. During that time, while Slovenian fans may focus on their national team’s results, the Lakers’ front office — and much of the NBA — will be far more concerned with one thing: Luka Dončić’s health.