Luka Doncic is a rising star in the NBA, having led the Dallas Mavericks on an unexpected run to the NBA Finals. However, now he faces a new challenge – securing a spot in the Olympics for his native Slovenia. After failing to qualify for the Olympics during last summer’s FIBA World Cup, Slovenia must earn admission through an Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Slovenia’s hopes took a blow in their first game, a loss to Croatia, leaving them in a “blow-out-or-go-home” situation. With point-differential as the tiebreaker in the group stage of Olympic qualifiers, Slovenia needed to defeat New Zealand by at least 10 points to advance to the semifinals. They achieved this with a stunning 104-78 win, led by Doncic’s impressive performance of 36 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists.
There are still four spots available for the 12-team field in the Olympics. The Olympic Qualifying tournaments feature 24 teams split into six groups, with the top two advancing to single-elimination rounds. Notably, two of the biggest stars competing this week – Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo – are set to face off in the semifinals.
The Olympics are still several weeks away but top players from around the world are already competing for a chance to represent their countries on the biggest stage in sports. As one of Slovenia’s most promising young athletes, Doncic is determined to help his country secure its place on this prestigious international stage.