The Los Angeles Lakers are not wasting any time when it comes to investing in their new franchise star, Luka Doncic, and honestly who would blame them? Especially with the recent rumors of Lebron James and how he might be on the move out of LA. Investing in Luka now makes total sense. Just months after completing one of the most shocking trades in recent NBA history to bring the Slovenian superstar to L.A., the Lakers are going the extra mile…literally.
This summer, Doncic will suit up for the Slovenian national team in EuroBasket 2025. But he will not be the only Laker making the trip. Assistant coach Greg St. Jean has officially joined Slovenia’s coaching staff, giving Doncic a direct connection to the Lakers throughout the entire tournament. NBA correspondent Marc Stein reported, “Slovenia has also hired Lakers assistant coach Greg St. Jean as a member of its coaching staff for the upcoming EuroBasket campaign — for the second time — so Doncic can have a daily Lakers presence alongside him later this summer.”
Slovenia has also hired Lakers assistant coach Greg St. Jean as a member of its coaching staff for the upcoming EuroBasket campaign — for the second time — so Dončić can have a daily Lakers presence alongside him later this summer.
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— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 4, 2025
This is not their first rodeo.
St. Jean worked closely with Doncic during their time together in Dallas from 2021 to 2023. As an assistant under Jason Kidd, he was one of the coaches Luka trusted most, as he was someone who did not just guide him through game plans, but understood how to reach him on a deeper level. On top of that St. Jean’s connection to L.A. runs just as deep. This is actually his second stint with the Lakers. He was part of the team’s player development staff from 2019 to 2021, helping the team win a championship inside the 2020 Orlando bubble.
After two seasons in Dallas and a short stretch in Phoenix, he returned to Los Angeles in 2024 as one of the first hires under new head coach JJ Redick.St. Jean is not new to Slovenia’s setup, either. He was on the bench for EuroBasket 2022, bringing his NBA-level experience to the international stage.
This kind of move speaks volumes about how the Lakers are approaching the Doncic era.
Conditioning has been a focus for Doncic this offseason, and by embedding a Lakers coach directly into Slovenia’s training environment, they are helping him stay aligned with the team’s program, even while he gets the opportunity of representing his country. Overall this is a smart play. For Doncic, it ensures that his Lakers transition does not pause during the summer. For the Lakers, it offers a unique window to continue shaping their star’s development while strengthening the bond between player and franchise.