TOKYO (Japan) - So here we are, licking our lips at the prospect of a Luka Doncic-fueled Slovenia taking on Spain - the most dominant team of Europe for the past two decades - in a battle of 2-0 teams for Group C supremacy.

The last time these teams met with much at stake was in the Semi-Finals of FIBA EuroBasket 2017 where Slovenia won emphatically, 92-72, to end Spain's title defense.

Doncic, who was 18 years of age at the time, showed signs of his current day brilliance by coming up just a couple of assists shy of a triple-double.

At the time, Doncic was the rising star of European basketball, though not one that had shown he could play with the best in the NBA.

A teenaged Doncic helped bring Spain down at FIBA EuroBasket 2017

Fast forward four years and Doncic has not only proved himself to be one of the best and most exciting players in the NBA with the Dallas Maverics. He has revealed himself to be on the shortest of short lists for the best player in the world title.

That was what Argentina coach Sergio Hernandez called him after Doncic dropped 48 points on the South American giants when they met on earlier this week as Slovenia prevailed, 118-100.

Doncic also had 11 rebounds, five assists and three blocks against Argentina. He played just 31 minutes.

Against Japan, in six less minutes, he had 25 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and two steals as Slovenia cruised, 116-81.

Here's what has to not just concern Spain about Doncic, but scare the living daylights out of them.

There is an even larger sample size to Doncic's domination of international basketball this summer. He wreaked havoc in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Kaunas against Angola, Poland, Venezuela and Lithuania.

He has never lost with Slovenia. NEVER.

 And there was something that Rui Hachimura said after Slovenia's win over Japan that should have been seen in bright, blinking red lights.

"Today they proved that this team is not just Luka Doncic," he said.

That is true, but maybe not 100% true. There is a good argument to be made that Slovenia's other players are having their best performances because of Doncic. It's almost as if he has transferred some sort of magic to each and every teammate.

Spain is also fighting Father Time. As the saying goes, time is an adversary that goes undefeated - always. 

And yet, Pau Gasol and the team's veteran core seems to have a bounce in its step heading into the 12 round of this heavyweight fight against time. For Pau, it  was a battle that nearly looked lost had the Games taken place as originally planned in the summer of 2020. 

“I love the game. I wanted to finish my career playing. I had such an incredible and extraordinary career that I didn't want an injury to finish it for me," the elder Gasol brother said after their Monday night win over Japan.

"It was a very difficult and challenging injury. And so I set myself this goal to get back on the floor and potentially play in the Olympics again with my national team, and I've worked my butt off to do it.

"I felt like it was worth the effort, it was worth the risk, and I just felt like I deserved to finish at this stage, so I've been very happy."

While the exilic of youth is potent, it looks like not just Luka has been dusted by Tokyo's Olympic magic.   

For this and many other reasons, Slovenia comes into the game with a healthy respect for Spain, too. They are the winners of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 and have more star power and a much bigger reputation than any team they have faced so far.

Spain hold the No. 2 position in the FIBA World Ranking Presented by Nike and continue to possess the kind of talent and synergy that most teams only dream of. 

This is a national team, which good or bad, is also passing the torch. For so long it's been Pau and Marc Gasol, and Rudy Fernandez and Sergio Llull, all veteran players now that stamped their marks with authority on the team's success.

Two decades into their rivalry, Pau Gasol and Luis Scola are still battling it out in the paint.

Yet starting in 2019, that player became Ricky Rubio, the point guard who made his debut at the Olympics at the Beijing Games 13 years ago.

It has taken him longer to become Spain's main man than it has taken Doncic to become Slovenia's. Yet Rubio is legitimately Spain's best player - and one battled-tested at the international game's highest stage as evidenced by hoisting the MVP trophy at the 2019 FIBA World Cup.

Rubio's crafty and strong with the ball. He remains a terrific defender, and an innovative and electrifying passer. Now Rubio shown a new wrinkle, making himself into a big-time scorer. In wins over Japan and Argentina, Rubio, 23.4 minutes per game, has averaged 23.0 points, 6.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds.

via GIPHY

Doncic goes into this showdown as the highest-rated player at the Olympics with his efficiency rating resting at an eye-popping 41.0. Rubio, meanwhile, is second at 24.5. 

The pressure is off both Slovenia and Spain as each has already locked up a spot in the Quarter-Finals. Yet - and this is something proven at each edition of the Games - there's undeniable value for teams to not take the foot off the accelerator, keep building that momentum each and every time they pick up a basketball inside the Saitama Super Arena.

The winner of this game will be fully assured of going into the first pot for the Quarter-Final draw. And with a combination of skill, tenacity and luck it could take them a whole lot further at these Olympic Games. 

FIBA