Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic recently sustained a right knee contusion, raising concerns about his health while representing Slovenia at the 2025 EuroBasket. While valid, Doncic surprisingly received support from ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, who backed his decision to play at the tournament despite the injury scare.
While addressing whether playing at the EuroBasket was a bad idea on “First Take“, Smith said:
“Normally, I would say yes. But in this case, I’m going to say no. He missed a lot of last season, obviously, before he got traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. Even though he was out of shape in a lot of people’s eyes, he was still averaging 28, 8, and 7. He’s been on this conditioning tip. Looks pretty much in the best shape we’ve seen him in. He just signed a new three-year deal.”
“You take all of those things into consideration, I would say, he’s got his bag, he’s got his money, and now he’s out there trying to work himself into the best shape he’s ever been in in his life. So if this is how he chooses to do it, I don’t knock him one bit.”
Smith concluded by addressing the dedication European players have for representing their country, something that is often overlooked in the USA. Given how meaningful this EuroBasket is to them, the broadcaster lauded the commitment shown.
Smith showing support for Doncic’s conditioning efforts is a bit odd, especially in light of his skepticism. Regardless, fans will look forward to seeing what the new and improved version of the guard can bring to the floor.
Doncic Will Play In The Game Against Great Britain
Concerns over Doncic’s knee initially cast doubt on Slovenia’s EuroBasket outlook, but positive updates now confirm he’ll suit up for the warm-up match against Great Britain.
Luka to fans: “Tomorrow is the game against Great Britain. I hope I see you in great numbers.” pic.twitter.com/JvnwWaUlhw
— SLO HOOPS FAN 🇸🇮 (@SloHoopsFan) August 18, 2025
Doncic is the best player on Slovenia’s roster. As the driving force behind their efforts, the team will look forward to having their star available to represent them for these friendly fixtures as well.
In the previous game against Latvia, Doncic showcased how his conditioning had impacted his performance. In the first half, he put up a dominant performance of 26 points, four rebounds, and five assists, on shooting splits of 67% from the field and 50% from three-point range.
When also considering the defensive effort he showed during the game, Doncic is certainly ramping up his on-court output in preparation for the main tournament.
Slovenia is placed in Group D, alongside teams such as France, Poland, Iceland, Israel, and Belgium. With their first game scheduled to be against Poland on August 29th, fans will eagerly look forward to the star’s performance.
