Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic is currently overseas competing in the 2025 EuroBasket tournament for his home country, Slovenia.
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Against Italy on Sunday, Doncic orchestrated a spectacular performance scoring 42 points with 10 rebounds and three steals. He was 11-for-19 from the field and 5-for-11 from beyond the arc.
The star guard had 22 points in the first quarter alone versus Italy. It was a masterclass performance from Doncic, but the game wasn't without an injury scare.
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Doncic left Sunday's game in the first quarter because of a leg injury, which was cause for concern given the Lakers star had already suffered an injury earlier in the tournament.
Nevertheless, Doncic returned to the game and put the finishing touches on a jaw-dropping showing. After Slovenia's victory, he provided a major update on his injury.
"I need therapy, but I'll be fine," Doncic said.
The star sustained a lower-body injury when a teammate fell on him in mid-August, and did not return to the exhibition matchup against Latvia. Thankfully, Doncic avoided any structural damage and was able to continue competing in the tournament.
Doncic also made history Sunday as he entered the top 50 all-time EuroBasket scorers. This comes as no surprise, given Doncic is scoring a whopping 36.89 percent of Slovenia's points in the tournament. He also leads his team in rebounds, assists, blocks and steals.
This summer, the Lakers signed Doncic to a three-year, $165 million max extension.
"Today is a monumental moment for our franchise," general manager Rob Pelinka said in a statement. "Luka Doncic's future is with the Los Angeles Lakers. Luka is one of the game's most transcendent players, and his on-court dominance and passion is without compare.
"From the moment Luka became a Laker, there was an immediate connection and admiration between Luka and our fanbase. You can feel it in your spirit when you attend a Lakers game. Luka is an absolute killer on the court, and blends that with a unique generosity and care for the community. Above all else, Luka will lead our franchise to pursue future championships, a goal that will forever define the Lakers."
The 2025-26 season will be Doncic's first full season with the Lakers, but the franchise will need to make a few more moves in order to be a top team in the Western Conference.
One thing is for sure: Whether Doncic is stateside or overseas, the 26-year-old remains a generational talent.
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This story was originally published September 8, 2025 at 3:34 PM.