Slovenia’s EuroBasket 2025 campaign ended earlier than fans had hoped, as the team fell to Germany in the quarterfinals despite another herculean effort from Luka Dončić . The Lakers superstar poured in 39 points in that game, carrying Slovenia as far as he could after previously dropping 42 against Italy to push them into the knockout stage. His scoring brilliance was undeniable, but what stood out just as much throughout the tournament was his improved commitment on the defensive end, where he helped spark transition opportunities and keep Slovenia competitive against stronger, deeper rosters.

That defensive dedication was recognized this week when Dončić was officially nominated for EuroBasket’s inaugural Best Defensive Player award, joining NBA peers Goga Bitadze and Isaac Bonga o

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