Latest news with #SasaDoncic
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Luka Doncic Reveals How He Fell In Love With Basketball
Luka Doncic Reveals How He Fell In Love With Basketball originally appeared on Fadeaway World. In a surprise guest appearance on the 'Mind the Game' podcast, Lakers star Luka Doncic opened up on all kinds of topics, ranging from his personal life to his career in the NBA. In one segment, Doncic even tells the story of how he first developed a passion for the game, tracing the origins of his love back to his father, Sasa. Advertisement "For me, I wasn't good at any other sports," said Doncic. "I was playing a lot of sports, tennis, soccer, and basketball were the main ones. For me, it was fun just to do sports. And then I went outside, I love to go outside after school. I went outside every day, playing anything, but mostly basketball. I went to his games when I started being a ball boy… EuroLeague games. That's how I used my time to get into basketball. They let us in before the game, halftime, I was just shooting.' Doncic, 26, grew up in Ljubljana, Slovenia, as the son of a professional athlete. Doncic's dad, Sasa, played one season of Euroleague basketball, averaging 2.8 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game on 40.6% shooting. He also played in the Slovenian Premier League, where he won two championships and three Slovenian Cups. After Sasa's playing career ended in 2010, he took on a coaching role for various clubs until 2022, when he presumably retired. At 50 years old, Sasa's career is already said and done, but the same cannot be said for his son, Luka, who is currently taking the league by storm. After growing up in the game and developing a love for the sport at an early age, Doncic was able to get a head start on his development, and it could be why he's so effective on the court today. After years of learning and growing with professionals, Luka learned all the tricks of the trade, and it's translated well into his career. Advertisement Starting at 13, Doncic's basketball journey is nothing short of impressive. Just a few years after joining Real Madrid's youth academy, he became the youngest player ever (at just 16 years old) to play for a senior team in the Spanish ACB League. It didn't take long after that for Doncic to emerge as a true basketball superstar. He won his first Euroleague MVP in 2018, led them to a championship, and then cemented his future by going third overall to the Mavericks in 2018. Ultimately, it didn't work out in Dallas, but Luka's status as an elite point guard remains intact. At just 26 years old, Doncic is one of the best players in the NBA, and he's the face of the Lakers after they gave up Anthony Davis to trade for him. In 50 games during the 2024-25 campaign, he averaged 28.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game on 43.8% shooting. As a 5x All-Star, 5x All-NBA player, and former Rookie of the Year, Luka's talents are undeniable, and his potential may be the highest for anyone in the league at his age. Going into a critical offseason, Doncic must stay in shape and develop chemistry with teammates so that he can help lead the Lakers to better results in 2026. Related: Chicago Bulls Would Have Offered Anything In Exchange For Luka Doncic This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on May 31, 2025, where it first appeared.
South China Morning Post
05-02-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Meet Luka Doncic's dad Sasa Doncic – who's furious with the Dallas Mavericks
Like father, like son: basketball players Sasa and Luka Doncic. Photo: @ Fame and celebrity Sasa Doncic is standing up for his son Luka, who was sent from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis in a surprise three-term deal made over the weekend. The trade stunned fans and reporters alike, but it was ESPN's Tim MacMahon who posited a reason for the shock move. The NBA sportswriter said the Mavericks had 'major concerns' about Doncic's ability to fulfil his potential because of issues they saw with his conditioning and lifestyle, per the New York Post. But Luka's father went on Slovenian television soon after to slam the team's decision. 'I understand there comes a moment when you disagree with a certain philosophy. You don't like this or that player, all good, I get it. But I think that exactly this secrecy, or should I say from some individuals, maybe even hypocrisy, this hurts me personally,' he told Arena Sport Slovenija. Sasa Doncic and a young Luka Doncic in Spain. Photo: @ 'Because I think that Luka absolutely doesn't deserve this. Given the fact that at least, as I know, he sacrificed himself enormously … I feel like this is very unfair from some individuals because I know that Luka respected Dallas a lot. He respected the whole city, helped children,' he added. So why did the move hurt Sasa 'personally'? Here's what we know about Luka Doncic's supportive dad. Sasa Doncic is a Slovenian former basketball player Sasa Doncic played basketball professionally in Slovenia between 1993 and 2010. Photo: @ Luka clearly inherited his father's basketball talents. While his son went on to play for American teams, Sasa primarily played for clubs in Slovenia, with his playing career lasting from 1993 to 2010, per People. Sasa Doncic with Slovenian NBA player Goran Dragic. Photo: @
