NBA

Luka Doncic’s Fiery EuroBasket Form Has Lakers Excited

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Antonio Kozlow
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Antonio Kozlow Sports Editor

Antonio is a life long sports enthusiast and professional journalist, who shares an obssesive urge to find and dig up the most interesting facts to guide gamblers towards more exciting, yet safe bets. In his own words, ''you can never really know enough about the things you love''.

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Updated7 hours ago on August 08, 2025

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A New-Look Luka Returns to the Spotlight

Luka Doncic made his first televised basketball appearance since his widely discussed body transformation. In Slovenia’s EuroBasket 2025 tune-up game against Germany, the Los Angeles Lakers star looked sharp, confident, and physically revitalized.

Doncic delivered his trademark blend of scoring and playmaking, hitting deep threes, finishing tough layups, and setting up teammates with precision passes. His movements appeared fluid, a sign that previous injury concerns may be behind him.

NBA insider Marc Stein highlighted the intensity of Luka’s performance on Twitter/X: “Isaac Bonga has shadowed Luka from the jump and Doncic has answered with 15 points and 5 assists, some trash talk for Bonga after one stepback and lots of jawing with Germany’s Spanish coach Alex Mumbru.”

Swagger and Competitive Edge on Full Display

The game served as a reminder of Doncic’s ability to combine elite skill with psychological warfare. Known as one of the NBA’s premier trash talkers, he kept the verbal pressure on opponents while dictating play.

His performance carried echoes of 2021, the last time he played summer international basketball. That year, Doncic led his team to the NBA Finals the following season. The Lakers, no doubt, are hoping for a similar result in 2025-26.

In the first half against Germany, Doncic shot 3-for-4 from beyond the arc. More importantly, he showed no hesitation attacking the rim, a facet of his game that was limited earlier in his Lakers tenure due to injuries.

Lakers Eye a Strong Season Ahead

For Los Angeles, the version of Luka seen in this warm-up game is a promising sign. His blend of offensive creativity, physical readiness, and competitive spirit could set the tone for the entire roster.

If Doncic maintains this form through EuroBasket and carries it into the NBA season, the Lakers’ championship aspirations will strengthen considerably. His leadership, both through skill and intensity, can energize teammates while breaking the will of opponents.

Luka Doncic is healthy, motivated, and talking his talk again. For the rest of the NBA, that combination is a dangerous problem.