TOKYO (Japan) - There is no secret as to how Slovenia clinched a spot in the Olympics for the first time in history and did so in convincing, riveting, mouthwatering fashion.

Luka Doncic, a talent that looks like he'll go down in history as one of the greatest to ever play basketball, put Slovenia on his back and led the country into the Tokyo Games with a stunning performance at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Kaunas.

Because of the 2.01m (6ft 7in) Doncic, Lithuania will not play, for the first time since 1992, at the Olympics. Because of Doncic, Slovenia are not just traveling to the Far East to join the festivities. They are going as legitimate contenders to reach the podium and maybe even challenge for the gold medal.

What the world now knows about Doncic is that he plays at his own speed. In Kaunas, pressure defense sure couldn't speed him up. His size, strength and length gave him advantages that he used so well with leverage. He made every pass and his decision making was outstanding.

His numbers were ridiculously impressive. He averaged 21.3 points, 11.3 assists and eight rebounds. He shot an eye-popping 55.6 percent from the floor, and 39.1 percent from behind the arc.

Doncic's average efficiency was 31.5!

In the OQT Final against the hosts, Lithuania, Doncic had his best game of all, a triple-double. He finished with 31 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds.

One of the coaches leading a national team at the OQT and coached against Slovenia marveled at Doncic's basketball IQ.

"Against Venezuela," Poland coach Mike Taylor said, "Slovenia ran a simple spread PnR (pick-and-roll) play and scored four straight baskets with Doncic using four different options: hitting the roll man, making the diagonal pass for a corner three, scoring himself at the rim and passing to a wing for three."

Doncic created advantages in the low post, too.

"When he gets his defender on his back and sits down in the lane, the defense is at his mercy," Taylor said. "His craftiness and pivoting in the paint is also something special."

And then there is Doncic's shot-making.

"The step-back going left is money, almost automatic with so much muscle memory," Taylor said.

As good as he is -- no wait, as incredible as he is -- it's not just all about Doncic. He makes his teammates better.

At times, it's as if Doncic has been touched by a divine hand.

His feeling for the game and his size and skill set give him every option to do things on the court. He can make every pass and score from deep or midrange. He can also not only get to the rim but finish. Doncic is the complete offensive player.

Slovenia will play against Argentina, Spain and Japan in Group C at the Olympics. With Doncic, they've got a chance to win all three and then go for gold.

FIBA