Luka Doncic’s offseason went entirely until he was terrified of injuries in Slovenia at Eurobasket 2025.
First of all, the Los Angeles Lakers completed Deandre Ayton’s summer signature and provided Doncic with a Lob-Catcher to support the next season.
He then accepted a three-year, $165 million contract and stayed with the Lakers, becoming one of the highest-paid players in NBA history.
Plus, the 26-year-old has been working on his fitness throughout the summer and appears to be in the best shape of his professional basketball career.
However, all of Donsic’s hard work could have been cancelled when his Slovenian teammate fell on him during the Eurobasket warm-up game.
Thankfully, the Lakers superstar hasn’t been injured, but Stephen A. Smith has now debated whether he should stop playing for his national team.
Given that the La Lakers paid Doncic $165 million as a long-term superstar, they’ll understand that they don’t want him to take a risk.
But the other side of the coin is that he is playing himself to the top to play the best basketball of his NBA career next season.
Certainly, that’s why Stephen A. Smith doesn’t think Donsic will continue playing in Slovenia this summer is a bad idea.
“Usually I say yes, but in this case I’m going to say no,” he said. “He missed out much of last season in Dallas before he was traded with the Los Angeles Lakers.
“He was incredible in the eyes of many people, but he still averaged 28, 8 and 7. He’s on this tip of conditioning and seeing the best form we’ve ever seen. He’s signed a new three-year deal.
“If you take all of them into consideration, I’ll tell you, he has his bag, he has his money, and now he is trying to make himself work in the best form he has ever been in his life.
Stephen A. also noted that foreign players such as Donsic, Nicola Djokic and Giannis Antetocomo are usually more interested in international basketball than Americans.
“Not only that, I think it’s important to remind everyone that international players should be praised, which we lament to American players,” Smith added.
“The level of dedication to their country, which they want to represent their country as often as they play in international competition, is very important to them. Their native citizens are accountable to them.
“Things like this are important to those people, so if you look at it from that perspective, when he stepes up and does it, I can understand where he came from. I can’t knock him.”
With Donsic in the courtroom, Slovenia has a real chance to win the Eurobasket 2025, so who can blame him for taking it seriously?