Doncic, the top figure of the first phase
The Slovenian superstar averaged 30 points per game to lead his team to win all three of their FIBA Basketball World Cup Group F games.
When Luka Doncic enjoys basketball, then magic stops being an illusion and becomes a reality. The passes without looking, the shots with the defense up, the drives regardless of the number of opponents and the punctual assists. The young powerhouse arrived at the FIBA World Cup in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia as the face of the tournament poster and at first he met expectations: he is the ultimate figure.
The image he offered of Luka playing with Slovenia in the first phase of the World Cup was notably different from the last one he showed with the Dallas Mavericks: while in the final stretch of last NBA season he spent his energy protesting against the referees and becoming frustrated . Due to the limitations of his team, in the World Cup he invested it in making his teammates better, in addition to standing out with his brilliant individual actions. True, the complaints about every action he displayed as an uncalled foul didn’t go away, but they didn’t deter Doncic from his ultimate goal: doing everything possible to win.
This almighty version of Luka in his first World Cup stands out at first glance in the statistics: 37 points, 6 assists, 7 rebounds and 2 steals in the 100-85 victory of the debut against Venezuela; 34 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals in an 88-67 win over Georgia; and he had 19 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists and 4 steals in a 92-77 win against Cape Verde. With an average of 30 points per game, he is the top scorer in the tournament. He is also the most effective thief, with 3 robots per encounter.
But the numbers show a static image and omit the movements of this basketball megastar. Everything that happens in the matches in Slovenia goes through the mind and body of Luka Doncic. He controls the pace, generates play for him and his teammates, gives instructions, makes decisions and takes responsibility for moments that are few and difficult for now.
Luka’s omnipresence in Slovenia is unquestionable. In fact, he was on the court a lot: 30:50 minutes on average. Will he hold up to that amount of playing time, with matches every other day, when the time comes? Doncic is 24 years old and in good physical shape, which would indicate that he has the rest to endure. But it’s not just about how much he plays but how he plays. The wear that he has is greater than that of the others because he is the absolute protagonist.
While other great figures in the NBA were absent from the World Cup for various reasons, with Nikola Jokic, partying in Serbia, and Giannis Antetokounmpo, recovering after an operation on his left knee, as heads of that list, Luka fully delivered and offered us the complete repertoire of his talent in the first phase of the World Cup. He stood out as a scorer and distributed divine passes to everyone. Playing with him is very easy: you have to be ready to receive and shoot.
Luka celebrated moments of euphoria, clenched his fist and smiled. And that’s the most important thing: he’s having fun, he’s enjoying the World Cup. From his world. When Luka Doncic enjoys basketball, then magic stops being an illusion and becomes reality.
