Stats stuffers: Tobey, Luka following the footsteps Slovenia's terrific trio from 2006

OKINAWA (Japan) - Mike Tobey did a little bit of everything in helping Slovenia secure a flight to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Quarter-Finals.

The 28-year-old finished with 18 points and a personal competition-high of both 12 rebounds and 5 assists, along with a steal in just under 30 minutes as they ousted a former tormentor in Australia. The seven-footer has been solid in the ongoing global showpiece, but it wasn't until the clash versus the Boomers where he notched his first-ever World Cup double-double.

Tallying such numbers has made it the second time that Slovenia had multiple players coming through with the said statistical feat in the same World Cup.

Before Tobey, Luka Doncic was the first to record a double-double immediately in his World Cup debut. The Slovenian superstar finished with 34 points and 10 rebounds, alongside 6 dimes, versus Georgia.

Player	Statistics	Game	Date
Luka Doncic	34 points, 10 rebounds	vs GEO	28 AUG 2023
Mike Tobey	18 points, 12 rebounds	vs AUS	1 SEP 2023

This marks only the second time that Slovenia have had multiple teammates record double-doubles in the same World Cup. This is not something to be taken lightly as Slovenia have a proud history of playing in the World Cup in the past two decades, featuring stars like Goran Dragic and Beno Udrih. Even after successful trips to the Quarter-Finals of the 2010 and 2014 editions of the World Cup, Slovenia have yet to have a pair of teammates record double-doubles in the same World Cup since 2006.

The first Slovenian players that achieved that feat were the trio of Primoz Brezec, Bostjan Nachbar and Rasho Nesterovic. Coincidentally, this was achieved in Japan as well in the 2006 World Cup.

Primoz Brezec, World Cup 2006

The feat was recorded over a stretch of three consecutive days.

Player	Statistics	Game	Date
Primoz Brezec	15 points, 12 rebounds	vs USA	22 AUG 2006
Bostjan Nachbar	10 points, 11 rebounds	vs PUR	23 AUG 2006
Rasho Nesterovic	11 points, 10 rebounds	vs CHN	24 AUG 2006

The trio were long-time veterans of the national team and also logged at least 300 games in the NBA each, with Nesterovic having the most mileage of 811 games.

However, Slovenia did not advance through to the Quarter-Finals in 2006, something that Doncic and Tobey have already been able to achieve in Slovenia's return to the World Cup in Japan. There is no doubt that they are aiming for more. Another win and they would already be making it as far as any Slovenia team has made it in a World Cup - though it's clear from their undefeated record so far that they have the potential to possibly even go all the way.

FIBA