Inside view of how the Los Angeles Lakers surprised EuroBasket 2025 host city Katowice when GM Rob Pelinka and president Jeanie Buss showed up to support Luka Doncic and the Slovenian national team.
The Slovenian national team — and Luka Doncic in particular — welcomed some very special guests ahead of FIBA EuroBasket 2025 on Thursday night. Los Angeles Lakers GM Rob Pelinka and team president Jeanie Buss made the trip to Katowice, Poland, to visit their superstar.
Slovenia / Schedule
While most cameras were locked in on Doncic practicing three-pointers at Spodek Arena, Pelinka and Buss suddenly appeared courtside — not exactly the faces you'd expect to see on the eve of the tournament.
Pelinka was chatting with Luka's father, Sasa Doncic, and later with his pick-and-roll partner Alen Omic.
Buss, meanwhile, was greeted mid-court by Lakers assistant coach Greg St. Jean, who is currently part of the Slovenian staff.
St. Jean introduced her to head coach Aleksander Sekulic: "This is our head coach," he audibly said as the two exchanged words before being invited to join the team photo.
There, Pelinka and Buss, naturally, stood right next to Luka, smiling for the photographers and international media.
Then, Doncic posed for an additional shot with the Lakers' top executives.
As Luka amused himself by launching full-court shots, Pelinka suddenly became available to the media — catching reporters off guard, since many had already left to get good seats for Doncic's upcoming press conference.
Pelinka answered questions for about four minutes to a group of 10–15 journalists before the Slovenian media officer cut things off with a wave. Soon after, Luka took the stage for his official EuroBasket opening presser.
It's rare for international tournaments to grant this kind of access to NBA superstars, but on Thursday night, journalists had the chance to ask Doncic a handful of questions — first in English, then in Slovenian.
Usually, players like Luka, Nikola Jokic, or Giannis Antetokounmpo skip media stops in the mix zone and avoid press conference time, but Doncic fulfilled his duty and seemed genuinely happy about the Lakers' visit.
Luka Doncic
Luka Doncic
Position: PG, SG
Age: 26
Height: 201 cm
Weight: 104 kg
Birth place: Ljubljana, Slovenia
"Jeanie Buss and Rob Pelinka's visit means a lot to me," he said. "I understand that they were on a very long flight. Today we were hanging out together at lunch, and I'm really grateful they are here. They really support me, and I'm glad that they came. I really appreciate that."
It's no secret that Doncic is now the centerpiece of the L.A. Lakers' future.
Luka is the player the organization is building around, and he's even been active in recruitment — helping bring in starting center Deandre Ayton and defensive-minded Marcus Smart this summer, according to multiple U.S. reports.
His new three-year, $165 million extension only underlines that role, especially with 40-year-old LeBron James entering the final year of his deal.
The Doncic–Pelinka–Buss connection might go even deeper. Speaking with the media, Pelinka revealed that Luka had already extended another invitation:
"He definitely is excited to show us Slovenia, go horseback riding, and try some food from there," Pelinka said with a smile. "So, Jeanie and I will be making a trip there as well."
Basically, the pair received superstar treatment in Poland, even drawing a few playful smiles and shrugs from Slovenian players.
However, their presence underscored something bigger: when top NBA names attend EuroBasket, it brings global attention to the tournament. And that spotlight matters.
For players like Luka, Giannis, and Jokic, these games are about more than basketball — they're about national pride and passion.
Pijus Sapetka
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