Luka Dončić
Dončić at the 2022 NBA All-Star Game | |||||||||||||||
| No. 77 – Los Angeles Lakers | |||||||||||||||
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| Position | Point guard / shooting guard | ||||||||||||||
| League | NBA | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born | February 28, 1999 Ljubljana, Slovenia | ||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 230 lb (104 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| NBA draft | 2018: 1st round, 3rd overall pick | ||||||||||||||
| Drafted by | Atlanta Hawks | ||||||||||||||
| Playing career | 2015–present | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
| 2015–2018 | Real Madrid | ||||||||||||||
| 2018–2025 | Dallas Mavericks | ||||||||||||||
| 2025–present | Los Angeles Lakers | ||||||||||||||
| Career highlights | |||||||||||||||
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| Stats at NBA.com | |||||||||||||||
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |||||||||||||||
Medals
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Luka Dončić (/ˈluːkə ˈdɒntʃɪtʃ/ LOO-kə DON-chitch;[1] Slovene: [ˈlùːka ˈdòːntʃitʃ]; born February 28, 1999) is a Slovenian professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Since his rookie season, he has been selected to five NBA All-Star games and five All-NBA First Team selections. He also represents the Slovenian national team and is widely regarded as one of the greatest European players of all time,[2] and is nicknamed Luka Magic.
Dončić was a youth player for Union Olimpija before joining the youth academy of Real Madrid. In 2015, he made his debut for the academy's senior team at age 16, becoming the youngest in club history. He made his senior debut for Slovenia in 2016 at only 17 years of age. He later helped his country win its first EuroBasket title, in 2017, while also being named to the All-Tournament Team. Dončić led Madrid to the 2018 EuroLeague title, winning the EuroLeague MVP and the Final Four MVP. He was named the ACB Most Valuable Player and won back-to-back EuroLeague Rising Star and ACB Best Young Player awards. Dončić was also selected to the EuroLeague 2010–20 All-Decade Team.[3]
In 2018, Dončić declared for the NBA draft, where he was drafted third overall by the Atlanta Hawks and then traded to the Dallas Mavericks.[note 1] Dončić was unanimously selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team and won Rookie of the Year for the 2018–19 season. He led the NBA in scoring during the 2023–24 season, becoming the first European to lead the NBA in scoring and second international player to achieve the feat. That season, he led the Mavericks to their third NBA Finals appearance. Dončić is also the Mavericks' franchise leader in career triple-doubles,[6] and holds the record for most points in a Mavericks season.[7]
Dončić was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in the middle of the 2024–25 season in a controversial blockbuster trade that is regarded as one of the most shocking and unexpected trades in American sports history.[8]
- ^ "2023–24 start of season NBA pronunciation guide" (Press release). National Basketball Association. October 24, 2023. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
- ^ Multiple sources:
- "Ranking 50 Greatest European Players in NBA History". NBA. August 5, 2020. Archived from the original on February 7, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
- "Svetislav Pesic: 'Jokic and Doncic are best Europeans who've ever played in NBA'". BasketNews. May 16, 2022. Archived from the original on July 8, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
- "Top 50 NBA players from last 50 years: Nick Wright's list". Fox Sports. August 10, 2022. Archived from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
- "40 greatest European players ever: The HoopsHype list". HoopsHype. October 30, 2023. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- Cato, Tim (May 25, 2024). "Like it or not, Luka Dončić is that guy". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
- Bailey, Andy (June 18, 2024). "Ranking the Top 50 NBA Playoff Performers of All Time". Bleacher Report. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
- ^ "Luka Doncic | Dallas Mavericks". nba.com. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ Sam, Amick (June 21, 2018). "Mavs, Hawks trade Trae Young, Luka Doncic in draft-night deal". USA Today. Archived from the original on March 23, 2022. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
- ^ Maloney, Jack (June 21, 2018). "Luka Doncic traded to Dallas Mavericks after Atlanta Hawks draft him with No. 3 pick in 2018 NBA Draft". CBS Sports. Archived from the original on March 23, 2022. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
- ^ "Luka Doncic sets new Mavs record with 22 triple-doubles". ClutchPoints. March 5, 2020. Archived from the original on March 6, 2022. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
- ^ "Mavericks All-Time Points Leaders: Single Regular Season Totals". landofbasketball.com. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ "Anthony Davis-for-Luka Dončić deal headlines 15 stunning trades in NBA history". NBA.com. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
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