ATHENS (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Greece basketball great Vassilis Spanoulis has heaped praise on Slovenia's Luka Doncic and called the 18-year-old European champion a "phenomenon".

Doncic made his FIBA EuroBasket bow this summer and helped the national team capture a first-ever medal, averaging 14.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.

"I believe that he is a great leader," said Spanoulis, a member of the Greek side that won EuroBasket 2005 and also upset the United States in the Semi-Finals of the 2006 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Doncic is a phenomenon. I believe that this kind of player comes around once every 50 years.Spanoulis

"He proved it in the recent EuroBasket. With his presence on and off the court, I believe he is the right player to lead any team to success, as he did.

"Doncic is a phenomenon. I believe that this kind of player comes around once every 50 years."

Slovenia went undefeated at the EuroBasket, winning their five games in the Group Phase in Helsinki and four in the knockout round in Istanbul. Doncic earned a spot on the All-Star Five with teammate Goran Dragic.

"Everything is impressive," Spanoulis said. "His maturity, his talent, his evolution, his progress. God bless him in order for the fans to watch what he can show on the court."

Slovenia will next be in action in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers.

They will host Belarus on November 23 and then play at Spain three days later.

FIBA