When Luka Doncic laced up for Slovenia ahead of EuroBasket 2025, he didn’t just have his national teammates in the gym-he also had a surprise cheering section from Los Angeles. Lakers GM Rob Pelinka and controlling owner Jeanie Buss flew to Poland this week, a gesture Doncic admitted “meant a lot” as he prepared for the tournament opener.
Doncic, who is entering his first full season with the Lakers, has been under the spotlight since the blockbuster move that landed him in L.A. earlier this summer. And while his focus right now is on representing his country, Pelinka said the front office wanted to make sure he knew where he stood back home.
“We just wanted to make a statement to Luka that we support what he does for his country,”Pelinka told The Athletic.“That’s really important to the Lakers when we have a player that’s the face of our franchise, just to show that support for him.”
For Doncic, that support wasn’t just symbolic. “It’s a long flight, like 11-12 hours,” he laughed with reporters. “Means a lot for them to be here to support me. We had a great lunch today-it was great to see them,” he said via Eurohoops.
Making the trip about more than basketball
Pelinka didn’t shy away from explaining the decision. He said the Lakers’ presence overseas was about more than basketball-it was about trust, loyalty, and showing Doncic that the organization views him as their future.
“We followed the national team’s training. Luka is in great shape, really committed to working hard this summer,”Pelinka said, via Ekipa. “Being here in person lets him know we believe in him, not just as a Laker, but as a leader for his country too.”
That alignment comes at a crucial time. Slovenia hasn’t exactly looked sharp in tune-up games, managing just one win in six exhibitions, according to Silver Screen & Roll. But with Doncic shouldering the load and the Lakers visibly in his corner, the narrative has shifted: his leadership and their backing could be the stabilizer Slovenia needs against Poland in Thursday’s opener.
A statement on the Lakers’ future
For Buss and Pelinka, the overseas trip also functioned as a long-term investment. Doncic recently inked a three-year, $165 million extension with the Lakers, per Reuters, and the franchise knows that keeping him happy and supported-on and off the floor-could define the next era of Lakers basketball.
This isn’t the first time the Lakers have wrestled with international duty and player workload. Stars like Pau Gasol once drew mixed reactions when they competed for their home countries. But in Doncic’s case, the front office has leaned all the way in. As Lakeshow Life framed it: the Lakers aren’t just allowing Doncic to play for Slovenia-they’re embracing it.
EuroBasket 2025, hosted across Poland, Cyprus, Finland, and Latvia, runs through September 14. With NBA rivals like Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo also suiting up for their nations, Doncic’s path won’t be easy. But with the Lakers’ top brass literally in his corner, the message is clear: he’s not going at it alone.
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