Luka Doncic is not very happy at the moment, and he is making sure people know why. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar publicly criticized Olimpia Milano for blocking Vlatko Cancar and Josh Nebo from representing Team Slovenia in this summer’s EuroBasket tournament.
Both of those players were expected to play big roles. But according to Doncic, they were not the ones making the call.
“As far as I understand, the club didn’t allow them to come,” Doncic told Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal. “In the end, the Lakers allowed it; Milan didn’t. I’d rather not get involved in it, but that should be the player’s decision. In my opinion. Those two are not at fault.”
There are two sides of every story. Olimpia Milano’s side is different. The club insists that both Cancar and Nebo are still recovering from injuries and were not cleared for competition.
In a statement shared by Aris Barkas of Eurohoops, Milan GM Christos Stavropoulos said, “The health of our players has always been and always will be our priority… Both players are recovering from very serious injuries that severely limited their availability during the last season.”
EuroBasket beef shows why Lakers locked in Doncic long-term
Situations like this are not really uncommon in international basketball. Clubs often protect their investments when it comes to summer competitions.
It is rare to see a player like Donic speak so openly and forcefully about it. He is not just showing his frustration; he is displaying his leadership.
That is exactly the kind of thing the Lakers invested in. Doncic recently signed a new three-year contract extension worth $165 million to stay in Los Angeles.
It is a deal that sets him up to be positioned as the long-term face of the franchise. While his scoring ability is absolutely undeniable, it is moments like this that show why that extension is worth every dollar.
With the way this offseason has been heading, chances are the Lakers might lose LeBron James in the near future, but having Doncic as a leader ready to fill his shoes is an absolute blessing. Doncic is already setting the example during the offseason, even thousands of miles away from Los Angeles.
Lakers fans, you all should be smiling because this is not just about EuroBasket. It is a preview of what is coming this upcoming season. Doncic is a superstar who brings more than buckets; he is a superstar that brings loyalty and leadership that most teams desperately search for.