Luka Dončić, the Slovenian superstar and Dallas Mavericks guard, will not be partaking in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. On Saturday, Dončić and Slovenia were knocked out of Olympic contention by Greece and Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who won decisively with a score of 96-68.
Following a grueling season that included regular season and playoff appearances, Dončić will now have his first opportunity for rest. Despite scoring a game-high 21 points and contributing seven rebounds and five assists, his efforts were insufficient to propel his home country past Greece. Antetokounmpo added 13 points and four rebounds, with Thomas Walkup leading Greece with 19 points. Slovenia’s elimination followed their second loss in the Group Phase.
Reflecting on the defeat, Dončić was candid about his and his team’s performance. “They played much better than us. They were far more aggressive,” Dončić remarked. “They have an incredible team, led by Giannis, but their other players are also crucial and they are well-coached. They outplayed us today.”
During the group stage, Dončić amassed 83 points, 29 rebounds, 25 assists, and three steals, shooting 38.7% from the field and 26% from three-point range (8-for-30).
Slovenia’s absence from this year’s Olympics follows their fourth-place finish at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, marking a significant setback after their inaugural Olympic appearance. Dončić was previously selected to the All-Star team of the tournament. Greece advances to the semifinals, where they will meet Croatia with a spot in the Paris Olympics at stake.
It has been a challenging period for Dončić individually, culminating in the Dallas Mavericks’ defeat in the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics. Despite his team’s loss in five games, Dončić posted impressive averages of 29.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists while shooting 47.2% from the field and 24.4% from three-point range in the Finals.
Despite falling short in the NBA Finals, Dončić’s sixth NBA season was arguably his best yet. He secured his fifth consecutive All-NBA First Team selection, earned another All-Star nod, and clinched his first NBA scoring title with a career-high average of 33.9 points per game. Additionally, Dončić finished among the top three in the NBA MVP voting.