Even before Wednesday's EuroBasket quarterfinal between Germany and Slovenia, one thing was clear: if you want to beat the Slovenians, you have to get a grip on their superstar Luka Doncic.

"He is extremely versatile on offense and can shoot extremely well. But his greatest strength is how he finds his teammates and controls the game," said Germany's best player, Franz Wagner, about Doncic.

"We'll see how much we can limit him. We'll have a few ideas," interim Germany coach Alan Ibrahimagic said.

"You can't stop him. You have to find ways to beat the team," said point guard Maodo Lo.

The Germans managed to do just that, winning the match 99-91. Still, Doncic was once again the best player on the court with 39 points and 10 rebounds. He had already contributed 42 points and 10 rebounds to Slovenia's 84-77 victory over Italy in the round of 16.

NBA Rookie of the Year

Luka Doncic comes by his basketball talent naturally – father Sasa Doncic was also a professional player who represented Slovenia. In 2018, coming off a season in which he was named MVP of the both the EuroLeague and the EuroLeague Final Four, Doncic moved across the pond to join the NBA's Dallas Mavericks.

In his debut season, he averaged 21.2 points, seven rebounds, and six assists per game – earning him the NBA Rookie of the Year award.

In his 450 NBA regular-season games, Doncic has averaged 28.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game. He has achieved a triple-double over 80 times, something most NBA players achieve only a few times, if at all, in an entire career.

Complete offensive player, defensively flawed

Doncic is known for his skill with the ball, his long-range shooting, and his ability to outwit multiple opponents when driving to the basket. Offensively only his free-throw percentage leaves room for improvement.

His defensive game, though, is another story. Here, he has faced criticism for not getting back down the court enough to defend his own basket – something that has led to discussion about his fitness. Listed at 230 pounds on his 6'6" frame, questions have also been asked about the Slovenian's weight.

"It's really hard to always give it your all on both ends of the court," he once conceded in an interview.

Doncic is a polarizing figure who often infuriates opponents and fans alike with his on-court behavior, often arguing calls with the officials.

"I complain way too much," he once said – apparently without figuring out how to curb the practice.

In February of this year, the Mavs shocked NBA fans by sending Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in a three-team trade. It seemed that not only were Dallas management dissatisfied with Doncic's work defensively, but with his deal set to expire, they also wanted to avoid having to sign him to a "supermax" contract that would have cost them a whopping $345 million through 2030.

Controversial trade to the Lakers

The trade shook the entire league with NBA stars like Joel Embiid, Kevin Durant, and Devin Booker expressing dismay that the Mavericks would give up a player considered the cornerstone of the franchise.
"Everything is even crazier than before. If someone like that can be traded, no one is safe anymore," Germany's Dennis Schröder said at the time, comparing North American professional sports, in which trades are commonplace, to "modern-day slavery."

Doncic's deep emotional connection to the Mavericks was evident upon his return to Dallas two months later. Before the match, the Mavericks honored their former star with a video that brought tears to Doncic's eyes.

But all his emotion didn't stop him from scoring 45 points in the Lakers' 112-97 victory.

Renewed motivation despite no 'supermax' payoff

The Slovenian has since come to terms with his new situation and signed a new three-year, $165 million contract with the Lakers [having been traded, he had lost his eligibility for a "supermax" contract].

"I'm just very happy to be here," Doncic said after signing. "This is the Lakers organization – one of the best teams in history."

A faster, fitter Doncic?

His renewed motivation led to him working hard to improve his fitness and athleticism over the summer.

"I'll obviously be a little faster next season," he joked at a recent press conference.

His improved fitness was obvious a few weeks before the European Championship when Germany played two friendlies against Slovenia. But in Wednesday's quarterfinal, Doncic looked like his old self; complaining about numerous refereeing decisions – all while doing extraordinary things with the basketball.

This article was originally published in German and first published in English on September 10, 2025. It was updated on September 11, 2025, to reflect the result of Germany's quarterfinal match against Slovenia.

Edited by: Jonathan Harding