While the Los Angeles Lakers wait for training camp to open, Luka Dončić has been making headlines at EuroBasket 2025. Representing Slovenia, the superstar has shown off his slimmed-down frame and improved conditioning with one dominant performance after another.
On Sunday, though, fans got a scare. Dončić left for the locker room at the end of the first quarter with an apparent hip injury. He returned to the bench early in the second quarter, per EuroBasket on X, easing immediate concerns, but the sight of him in discomfort raised alarms across Slovenia and Los Angeles.
Lakers Luka Doncic Leading EuroBasket Team
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Before the scare, Dončić was unstoppable against Italy. He dropped 22 points in the opening quarter alone, finishing the half with 30 points on 9-of-13 shooting, plus five rebounds and an assist. Commentators later noted he was receiving spray treatment during a timeout, though he continued to play at an elite level.
This isn’t the first time he’s played through pain. In August, Dončić sustained a knee contusion during a warm-up game against Latvia, yet returned to score 28 points in Slovenia’s opener versus Great Britain. His resilience has carried Slovenia, who entered the Round of 16 after a roller-coaster group stage. Dončić has already put up 34 points, 9 assists, and 5 steals against Poland, a 39-point night against France, and a record-setting triple-double against Belgium. Along the way, he became Slovenia’s all-time leading scorer in international play.
The Lakers, who re-signed Dončić to a three-year, $165 million extension this summer, will be watching closely. Their 2025–26 season begins Oct. 21 against the Golden State Warriors, and the franchise has made it clear that building around Dončić is its top priority.
For Slovenia, though, the challenge is immediate. With stars like Vlatko Čančar sidelined, the team’s EuroBasket hopes hinge almost entirely on Dončić’s health. If he slows down, their path forward becomes far more uncertain.