Luka Dončić, the NBA’s Slovenian superstar, is dominating the court, averaging 33.9 points and 9.2 rebounds per game for the Dallas Mavericks. But beyond the numbers lies a fascinating journey about a 25-year-old’s rise to fame. Here are ten facts about this exceptional athlete that often go unnoticed.
The Seven-Month Old Basketball Player
As the son of former Slovenian basketball player Saša Dončić, Luka naturally had a passion for the game. The shooting guard started playing in childhood and owned his first basketball at seven months. Unsurprisingly, Luka was a frequent spectator at his father’s matches, which fostered his love for shooting hoops.
The Tallest in the Room
Dončić has always been taller than his peers, even as a young basketball player. Because of this, his coaches suggested he play with the Olimpija under 12 and 14 teams when he was eight years old. Currently, the star stands at an intimidating 6’7″ and doesn’t fail to maximize that advantage on the court.
Playing with the Big Boys
The next team Luka played for was the Real Madrid under-16 club in 2012 when he was just 13. Despite his age, Luka left Slovenia for Madrid without family or friends to guide him. There, he averaged 25 points and 16 rebounds, led the youth team to a Minicopa Endesa victory, and won an MVP title.
Youngest Real Madrid Player
After his youth academy career, Dončić joined the Real Madrid professional team in 2015. At 16, Luka was the youngest member in the club’s history, playing alongside men far older. But Dončić wasn’t intimidated. In 2018, he secured the EuroLeague title for his team and an MVP and Final Four MVP title for himself.
Not the First Pick
Even with all his achievements in European basketball, teams in the US were skeptical of his abilities. Some thought he was too slow to compete professionally in America. This misconception delayed his drafting to the third overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks in 2018 and a trade to the Mavericks that same season.
A Maverick Star is Born
As expected, Dončić disproved his doubters and quickly amassed an impressive streak of accolades. Just a year post-drafting, he won his first All-Star selection, becoming the first player to achieve that in their rookie season. This Maverick shooting guard currently leads the team with the highest triple-doubles in a season.
The Real MVP
The NBA ranks Dončić among the top 50 European NBA players of all time. But that is just one of his many recognitions: Dončić is the NBA’s first European scoring champion and one of the world’s highest-paid athletes. Other notable NBA achievements are his five NBA All-Stars and a Western Conference Finals MVP.
A Multilingual Champion
Aside from early exposure to the game, Dončić’s multilingualism might be the secret sauce to his success. Recent theories show multilinguals have an advantage over monoglots, often outperforming them. This theory might hold water as this MVP speaks not one but four languages: English, Slovenian, Serbian, and Spanish.
Basketball isn’t the Only Game
When he’s not shooting hoops, Dončić spends his spare time gaming. The star revealed in a 2018 interview with sports journalist Mina Kimes that his favorite video games are Overwatch, FIFA, and Call of Duty. He even ranks at Grandmaster level and among the top 500 tank players in Overwatch 2.
A Fiance and a Father
Nothing compares to building meaningful relationships with loved ones. So, it’s heartwarming to see that this MVP has found love with his fiancée, Anamaria Golte. The couple got engaged in July 2023 and welcomed their first child, Gabriela, in December of that year.