LOS ANGELES (USA) - When it comes to making one of the biggest trades in NBA history to acquire Luka Doncic and then signing him to a lucrative contract extension, it makes perfect sense to travel halfway across the world and watch him play for his national team.
That's why Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka was among the contingent from the club with front row seats in Katowice, Poland, to see firsthand how Doncic would play at FIBA EuroBasket 2025.
There was the extra bit of interest, too, with Doncic having made a much publicized commitment to a strict diet and training program.
Doncic didn't just impress. He wowed the Lakers and EuroBasket fans with his performances for Slovenia, which helped the team reach the Quarter-Finals before a narrow defeat to eventual tournament winners Germany.
Doncic, 26, led the tournament in scoring at 34.7 points per game. He poured in 42 points in a Round of 16 victory over Italy, 39 in a Group Phase defeat to France and 39 in the last game against Germany.
While garnering an All-Star 5 nod at the EuroBasket for the second time - the first since EuroBasket 2017 when he helped Slovenia win the title - Doncic left no doubt that his off-season fitness regime will benefit the Lakers and their quest for titles. He also averaged 8.6 rebounds per game and 7.1 assists per contest.
Maybe the most eyebrow raising stat of all was his average of 2.7 steals per contest, which was joint best in the entire EuroBasket along with Israel point guard Yam Madar.
"Luka's play in EuroBasket made it clear to the entire basketball world that he's on that incredibly short list of 'best player on the planet' candidates, if not at the top," Pelinka said to ESPN.com.
"In terms of team building, we've talked about the importance of having optionality and when I use that word, it's not to say in the future. I think optionality is also in the now. Having both Luka as arguably the best player on the planet and LeBron James, who is still in the mix of being one of the great players in our game, even at his age, continues to allow us to think carefully about the value of that optionality."
Luka has a tremendous amount of heartfelt pride playing for his country
Having both Doncic and James gives the Lakers two icons that could be instrumental as the Lakers go after an 18th NBA championship in franchise history this season and first since 2020, when James was the Finals MVP.
"If there are smart ways to pour into our championship aspirations for next year, we will execute on those," Pelinka said. "And we see having those two players on our team next year [as] an important moment, and we'll continue to try to do all we can to deliver this franchise its 18th championship."
As far as seeing Doncic in a different environment, Pelinka knew it was important to Doncic to represent Slovenia.
"Luka has a tremendous amount of heartfelt pride and appreciation for his roots and playing for his country," Pelinka said. "I just think in the partnerships we have with our players, the Lakers want to be mindful of players' passions and who they are as men and then lean in and support those things. So, around Luka, it was a very easy partnership decision that we wanted to support."
Players are going to work hard to get ready for the upcoming season regardless, whether it's individual training or in national teams. The competition at the EuroBasket is elite, with numerous superstars from the NBA taking part. It was a good way for Doncic to spend a large part of his summer, Pelinka felt.
Players playing basketball in the offseason is something that, from a leadership standpoint, I support
"Players playing basketball in the offseason is something that, from a leadership standpoint, I support," Pelinka said. "I think you could say in some sense that some of the offseason and sort of the current basketball lens, especially in the States, is on individual work. And I think that sort of the team environment can get lost."
As it stands, the EuroBasket 2017 achievement and Doncic's Olympic summer in Lithuania and Tokyo rank highest in terms of national team success. Doncic helped EuroBasket 2017 MVP Goran Dragic win the toughest continental championship while in 2021, he supercharged Slovenia with his dynamic and relentless attacking play that left most opponents in the dust.
Only a Nicolas Batum block of Klemen Prepelic's last-second layup prevented Doncic from facing the USA in the Gold Medal Game in Tokyo.
His 47 points scored against France at EuroBasket 2022 in Cologne remains his highest points total for his country in a single contest.
His performances for Slovenia in the tournaments that followed have been spectacular, too, even if the team has not scaled the heights.
Doncic's next chapter will be written in the NBA with the Lakers, and that will be fun to watch.
All eyes will be on the Slovenia star once he returns to international competition as well, be it in the European Qualifiers for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027, or at the 32-team event itself in Doha, Qatar.
FIBA