Luka Doncic is known for his flashy passes, deep stepbacks, and elite scoring touch, but his evolution as a leader is what’s drawing praise this summer. As he leads Slovenia at the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 tournament, longtime teammate Klemen Prepelic spoke candidly about Doncic’s growth behind the scenes. According to Prepelic, the 25-year-old is stepping up, both as a communicator and as the emotional anchor of the team.
“Luka, with his constant availability and commitment, shows an ideal attitude towards the national team,” Prepelic told SportKlub. “He is open and positive. He knows how to cheer on young people.”
This isn't Luka's first time with Team Slovenia, but it is his first time suiting up for them since his trade to the Lakers in February. While Luka still has a long way to go, Prepelic says that he already sees tremendous growth in the basketball superstar.
“In addition, he has changed a bit," Prepelic added. "He talks significantly more than in the past. This is probably related to the challenge that awaits him at the LA Lakers, where he is becoming the first face of the franchise and a true leader."
Leadership and accountability are not measurable values, but they are important for every great player to have. In the case of Doncic, he's done more than enough to prove his worth and reveal his intentions as a leader.
“His basketball IQ is unimaginable. Whatever he says, he says in good faith, with enthusiasm and in the hope that his teammate will be better because of it.”
Luka Doncic and Nuggets star Nikola Jokic have been putting on a show in EuroBasket this summer with strong play and excellent displays of leadership. For Jokic, it was reminding one of his young teammates to shake hands with the team after being subbed out of the game. For Doncic, it's instilling the players with confidence by keeping a positive attitude and an open line of communication.
For Doncic in particular, it's no surprise that he's taking extra steps to ensure his success. After being called out by his former team (Dallas Mavericks) for being out of shape and uncommitted to the mission, Luka is on a quest to prove them wrong, and it starts with setting the right example for Slovenia.
It remains to be seen how this summer's tournament will end for Doncic, but Lakers fans should be feeling good about what they're hearing. While his recent injury scare did cause some initial panic (he finished with 26 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds in 17 minutes), he's well enough to keep playing and intends to see this through to the end. If he's able to carry this momentum into his first full season with the Lakers, it could be the spark that finally launches him into title contention
Luka Doncic has never lacked talent, but now he’s showing signs of becoming something even more dangerous: a fully formed leader. Whether it’s lifting up younger teammates in Slovenia or preparing to lead the Lakers into a new era, Doncic’s mindset is evolving in real time.
If the skills remain sharp and the attitude stays locked in, the rest of the league may be looking at a scarier version of Luka than ever before, one who’s playing for more than stats or highlights.
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