The Los Angeles Lakers are barely making ready for the upcoming NBA season, but a brand new actuality is already setting in for followers and executives alike: Luka Doni‘s unwavering devotion to Slovenia may imply frequent harm scares each summer season.
The 26-year-old celebrity lately gave Laker Nation a fright throughout a EuroBasket 2025 preparation recreation in opposition to Latvia, the place he collided with a teammate and briefly went down.
LeBron James and Luka Doncic are excited to have this fierce defender as a Laker teammate
Fortuitously, the harm proved minor, nevertheless it was sufficient to spotlight what insiders are calling the “new regular” of the Doni period in Los Angeles.
Why Luka’s case is totally different From previous Lakers stars
Whereas worldwide play is nothing new for NBA icons, Doni’s state of affairs stands aside. ESPN L.A.’s Lakers Speak host Andy Kamenetzky warned followers that Doni‘s dedication to representing Slovenia means summer season harm scares will possible be an annual incidence.
“That is the primary of many potential scares that might happen throughout EuroBasket, and it’s a reminder of what Lakers followers are going to must get used to throughout the Luka period, or the Lakers, as a result of we’re not used to a celebrity Laker taking part in for his nation non NBA basketball as typically as Luka will,” Kamenetzky defined.
He contrasted Doni with different Lakers legends similar to Kobe Bryant,LeBron James, and Anthony Davis, who participated in Olympic basketball, however solely as soon as each 4 years.
Doni, by comparability, competes not solely within the Olympics but additionally the FIBA World Cup and EuroBasket tournaments. That workload creates an unprecedented degree of danger for Lakers common supervisor Rob Pelinka and the franchise’s long-term planning.
Although stars like Pau Gasol proudly performed for Spain whereas donning Lakers purple and gold, Kamenetzky famous that none have been as central to their roster as Doni is anticipated to be. His significance to the group magnifies the priority round his heavy worldwide schedule.
The deeper which means behind Doni’s dedication
For Doni, suiting up for Slovenia is about greater than basketball, it is an emotional and cultural accountability. Slovenian teammate Klemen Prepelic provided perception into simply how a lot it means to him.
“Quite a bit. I imply, simply the truth that final 12 months he performed the NBA finals, he misplaced. He was like a mummy,” Prepelic recalled. “And he come subsequent day to nationwide group. That is. Subsequent day. That is unbelievable, I imply, I imagine additionally on this nice chemistry. The group of men makes him really feel good to come back to joke, to have an excellent time.”
Past the camaraderie, representing Slovenia offers Doni with a uncommon psychological break from the relentless stress of being one of many NBA’s most scrutinized stars.
It additionally permits him to play a central position in increasing basketball’s attain in his dwelling nation, one thing he takes immense delight in.
Regardless of the issues in Los Angeles, it is clear Doni has no intention of slowing down his worldwide commitments.
For the Lakers, the problem might be balancing their celebrity’s deep loyalty to Slovenia with the franchise’s purpose of protecting him wholesome for the grueling NBA season forward.
