The Lakeshow Review

Luka’s outstanding run of international basketball unfortunately came to an end yesterday, as Slovenia was downed by Germany during the 2025 EuroBasket quarterfinals by a score of 99-91. Slovenia was by no means a favorite coming in to this tournament, but they managed to make it all the way to the knockout round, thanks in no small part to a series of stellar performances by Luka Dončić. One could say that they played well beyond their expectations, and that’s definitely something to be proud of, both for Luka and for his side. But against a robust Germany squad, one that boasts several NBA talents, including the likes of Dennis Schröder, Daniel Theis, Franz Wagner and Tristan Da Silva, Slovenia had its work cut out for them and were tasked with an uphill climb from the onset. They battled admirably, but eventually fell to a more skilled and well-rounded German side. From a Lakers-perspective however, this tournament provided many positives that could carry on to next season, all involving one Luka Dončić. The Lakers superstar balled out, and showed the world that he’s ready to answer the critics that called out his commitment and physical condition. Luka looked stellar all tournament, save for one or two games were he was forced out of action, he was by far the best player in the tournament. Unfortunately, due to the shortcomings on the Slovenian roster, he could only take them so far. But it was encouraging to see Luka play at the level that he did, thus helping his team make it this far.

Slovenia got off to as promising start, with Luka providing the offensive cavalcade they’d become accustomed to. Luka was scoring in isolation, from the pick-and-roll and doing his best to keep his teammates involved. For a moment, it looked like it may well have been enough. Slovenia battled Germany to a standstill for three quarters, even building a modest four-point (74-70) advantage heading into the fourth quarter. However, a successful 3-point heave to end the third, courtesy of Tristan Da Silva, gave Germany some much needed momentum. Such that they marched into the fourth quarter ready to assume the lead once more, thanks to the skilled shotmaking of players like Franz Wagner (who finished with 23 points, seven rebounds and four assists) and Dennis Schröder (the former Lakers put up 20 points and seven assists). Big man Daniel Theis also contributed 15 points and nine boards. Ultimately, Germany was too much for the Slovenians to keep up with, eventually building a healthy lead in the waning minutes, one they did not relinquish.

For his part, Luka was once again Luka Magic, in other words, excellent. He put up a gaudy 39 points, 10 boards and seven assists. He shot the ball relatively poorly (11/25 from the field and 5/16 from beyond the arc). Most this was due to him having to empty the clip, as surely, no sizeable help was going to come from the rest of the roster. Luka knew he had to lay it all out there, and he did. He had the midrange going, as he made a number of them in the fourth quarter in hopes of keeping his team afloat. But ultimately Germany’s savviness and multi-pronged attack helped them close the deal. A late stepback three pointer from the wing by Luka briefly gave Slovenia a one point 86-85 lead with a little over four minutes to go in the game. But from there on, it was all Germany, as they managed to out-execute the opposition in a hard-fought contest. It was a good game for sure and one that perhaps can be somewhat of a building block for Slovenia, and their future hopes for International glory. All in all, making it this far in the tournament is certainly an achievement, and something they can be proud of.

For Luka, this tournament was everything he and his supporters could have hoped for. He showcased his talents on an international stage, being the main driving force behind his team’s success. After starting out 0-2, Slovenia managed to string together a 4-game win streak, heading into the quarterfinal matchup with Germany. Their hopes were cut short against a superior opponent, yet it was still an impressive showing by Slovenia, as well as for Luka individually. For the entire tournament, Luka averaged 34.5 points to go with 8.6 rebounds and 7.9 assists. He shot a robust 45.8% from the field, but was eluded by the three pointer, making only 32% of his shots from range. Hopefully, with better looks on the Lakers, he will make them at a better clip, without having to force the issue. Luka finished as the leader in both scoring and steals for the tournament. Certainly a positive sign for a player coming back from an injury-ridden 2025 season, with the hopes of recapturing his past form. Luka looks great and ready to prove the doubters wrong. After yesterday’s contest, we will next see Luka suit up for the Lakers training camp in a few weeks. Pre-season is slated to start early in October. It’s exciting to see a well-motivated Luka come into the season ready to pick up where he left off, and hopefully go on to do great things for the Los Angeles Lakers. Until then, let’s hope guys arrive at training camp with a chip on their shoulder and eager to prove the naysayers wrong. It should be a good season in store. Go Lakers.