Luka Doncic has never been one to hide his emotions, and during Slovenia’s EuroBasket showdown with Belgium, the cameras caught the Los Angeles Lakers superstar at his rawest.
With Slovenia clinging to momentum midway through the contest, Doncic exploded during a timeout. EuroBasket’s format shows the team huddle live on broadcast, and fans got an unfiltered look at Luka cussing out his teammates, demanding sharper execution and more focus.
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The eruption didn’t derail Slovenia. Instead, it fueled one of the most historic stat lines the tournament has ever seen.
Doncic finished with 26 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds, and three steals, powering Slovenia to an 86–69 victory over Belgium. The performance marked just the fourth triple-double in EuroBasket history since 1995, placing Luka alongside Toni Kukoc, Rares Mandache, and Mateusz Ponitka.
At just 26 years and 184 days old, Doncic also became the youngest player to surpass 400 career EuroBasket points since Tony Parker in 2007.
Slovenia desperately needed this win after opening the tournament with back-to-back losses, including a crushing 103–95 defeat to France despite Luka’s 39-point explosion. Against Belgium, Doncic showed his ability to rebound from a loss, dominating every possession and refusing to let his team fall apart.
His tirade during the timeout became a turning point. Slovenia came out sharper defensively, controlled the tempo, and never looked back.
Through three games, Doncic is averaging 33 points, 9.7 assists, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.3 steals, a stat line that reads like a video game. Even more encouraging for Lakers fans, he’s been noticeably more active on defense. After years of being mocked as a “traffic cone,” Doncic has slimmed down, looks lighter on his feet, and is visibly making the effort to guard his man.
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The win over Belgium also eased concerns about Doncic’s health. Earlier in August, he suffered a right knee contusion in a Slovenia exhibition game, raising alarms back in Los Angeles, where he had just signed a three-year, $165 million extension.
Luka playing elite defense 👀 https://t.co/fXCBK7gIdL
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 28, 2025
Jeanie Buss and Rob Pelinka even traveled to Poland to support their star and ensure everything was under control. Sunday’s triple-double was the clearest proof yet that Doncic is not only healthy but thriving under the international spotlight.
For the Lakers, it’s exactly the kind of effort they hope carries over into the NBA season. Last year’s first-round playoff exit still stings, and with LeBron James nearing the end of his career, Los Angeles needs Doncic to fully embrace the role of franchise leader. If this EuroBasket run is any indication, Luka is ready.
Slovenia now turns its focus to Iceland on Tuesday, needing every win to advance. With Doncic in this kind of form, no opponent will feel safe.
