Luka Doncic is not having a summer full of relaxation. The Western Conference Finalist is already playing games for the Slovenian national team, recently playing in a friendly against Italy. This is in preparation for EuroBasket, the premier inter-country basketball competition in Europe. Slovenia is the defending champions after their inaugural win in 2017.
Doncic was a part of that Slovenia squad but was far too young to lead it. That job fell to Goran Dragic, who was one of the best players in the tournament. Now the keys to the national team are with the 22-year-old Luka after his performances in the 2020 Olympics, but Dragic is still the captain and leader.
Dragic and Doncic have been friends for years, with Goran even predicting Luka would be an NBA superstar years before he was drafted. The pair have never played together in the NBA, but this summer, Dragic is expected to sign with the Dallas Mavericks and play alongside Luka. When Luka was asked about this, he quickly shut it down to avoid a tampering fine.
Luka and Goran were asked about the possibility of them playing together in Dallas next season.
Luka: “I would like to answer that, but I think it’s a 100.000 penalty if I did. You should ask the GM about that.”
Goran: "We can’t talk about it till july 1st." pic.twitter.com/8phIKfHvsy
— Matej Sportinfo (@MatejSportinfo) June 28, 2022
Luka really couldn’t have said anything else. It does look like Dragic is warming up to the idea of joining the Mavs finally. He was expected to join the team in the winter market, but Dallas couldn’t find the right trade with the Toronto Raptors and traded for Spencer Dinwiddie, with Dragic getting bought out and walking to the Brooklyn Nets.
With the possible departure of Jalen Brunson from the Mavs, a guard spot will be open in Dallas. Dragic could be the perfect replacement for a fraction of the price that Brunson would command.
Something must be brewing, and as Dragic said, we will find out after the 1st of July. As Goran ages closer to the end of his career, he knows another opportunity to play association basketball alongside his countryman in Doncic may not come.
