Luka Dončić
Luka Dončić first touched a basketball when he was seven months old. By age one, he played with a miniature hoop in his room every day. His father Saša Dončić coached at Union Olimpija, the club where Luka began organized play at age seven. Opponents were up to 10 years older than him during those early school games. He often asked to attend practice sessions even when told to stay home by coaches. At eight years old, coaching staff moved him from 16-minute training into the 11-year-old group immediately. League rules restricted him to playing for under-12 teams despite practicing with older players. He finished as runners-up at the Vasas Intesa Sanpaolo Cup in Budapest in September 2011 while earning MVP honors.
In September 2012, 13-year-old Dončić signed a five-year contract with Real Madrid. He lived with football and basketball prospects after moving to Spain. During the Minicopa Endesa tournament in February 2013, he averaged 24.5 points per game leading Real Madrid to victory. On the 6th of January 2015, against his former club Union Olimpija youth team, he posted 13 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, and four steals. By May 2015, he won the under-18 Next Generation Tournament defeating Crvena zvezda Belgrade in the final. His professional debut came on the 30th of April 2015, against Unicaja at age 16 years, two months, and two days. That made him the youngest player ever to play for Real Madrid in the ACB league.
On the 16th of October 2015, Dončić debuted in the EuroLeague scoring two points in a loss to Khimki. He became the 21st player to debut before turning 17. In December 2016, he recorded 16 points, six rebounds, five assists, and three steals against Brose Bamberg. This performance earned him MVP of the Round honors making him the youngest player ever to receive that award. During the 2017, 18 season, he averaged 16 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.3 assists over 33 games. On the 20th of May 2018, he guided Real Madrid to a EuroLeague finals victory over Fenerbahçe Doğuş. He subsequently won both EuroLeague Final Four MVP and EuroLeague MVP awards becoming their youngest winners. He also claimed back-to-back EuroLeague Rising Star titles alongside ACB Best Young Player accolades.
Dončić was selected third overall by the Atlanta Hawks on the 21st of June 2018 before being traded to Dallas. His regular-season debut occurred on the 17th of October 2018 resulting in 10 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. By the 21st of January 2019, he recorded his first NBA triple-double with 18 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. That made him the third-youngest player in history at 19 years and 327 days old. On the 6th of February 2019, he became the youngest player to record three triple-doubles, edging Magic Johnson by 117 days. During the 2018, 19 season, he averaged 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game. In May, he was unanimously selected to the All-Rookie First Team. He received the NBA Rookie of the Year award making him the second European winner after Pau Gasol.
On the 17th of August 2020, Dončić made his playoff debut scoring 42 points against the Los Angeles Clippers. This set a record for most points ever in an NBA playoffs debut. Three days later, he scored 43 points including a buzzer-beating three-pointer in overtime victory over the same opponent. On the 31st of July 2020, he posted 28 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists becoming the youngest player to lead the NBA in triple-doubles. By the 24th of May 2024, he led Dallas to their third NBA Finals appearance defeating Minnesota Timberwolves. He finished as Western Conference finals MVP that year. During the 2024 Finals, he became the first player since Tim Duncan in 1999 to record a 30-point double-double in his first Finals game. He also became the first Dallas franchise player to record a triple-double in any Finals contest.
On the 2nd of February 2025, Dončić was traded alongside Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris to the Los Angeles Lakers. The deal sent Max Christie, Anthony Davis, and a 2029 first-round pick to Dallas. Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison initiated the transaction without informing Dončić beforehand. He made his Laker debut on February 10 against Utah Jazz scoring 14 points in 24 minutes. On February 25, he recorded his first triple-double as a Laker with 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists against Dallas. This trade marked the first time two reigning All-NBA players were exchanged midseason. It put Dončić together with LeBron James whom he admired growing up. The move drew heavy criticism from fans while Harrison defended it citing defense wins championships philosophy.
Dončić announced representation of Slovenia's senior men's team on the 22nd of September 2016. His national team roommate became Goran Dragić whom he met at age seven. During EuroBasket 2017, Slovenia won its first gold medal going undefeated 9, 0 through the tournament. In the final match against Serbia, he scored eight points and grabbed seven rebounds before injury forced him out. He was named to the competition's All-Tournament Team alongside Dragić who won MVP honors. At the 2020 Summer Olympics qualifying tournament in Kaunas, Lithuania, he led Slovenia to their first-ever Olympic berth. He won MVP of that tournament recording 31 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists in the final round victory over Lithuania. On the 26th of July 2021, he scored 48 points in his Olympic debut against Argentina tying for second-highest point total ever in a single game.
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Common questions
When did Luka Dončić first start playing basketball?
Luka Dončić first touched a basketball when he was seven months old. He played with a miniature hoop in his room every day by age one and began organized play at Union Olimpija at age seven.
What records did Luka Dončić set during his time with Real Madrid?
Luka Dončić became the youngest player ever to play for Real Madrid in the ACB league on the 30th of April 2015. He also became the youngest player ever to receive EuroLeague MVP honors after recording 16 points, six rebounds, five assists, and three steals against Brose Bamberg in December 2016.
How old was Luka Dončić when he recorded his first NBA triple-double?
Luka Dončić recorded his first NBA triple-double on the 21st of January 2019 at 19 years and 327 days old. This achievement made him the third-youngest player in history to record such a feat.
Who did Luka Dončić get traded to on the 2nd of February 2025?
Luka Dončić was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers on the 2nd of February 2025 alongside Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris. The transaction sent Max Christie, Anthony Davis, and a 2029 first-round pick to Dallas Mavericks.
What achievements did Luka Dončić earn during EuroBasket 2017?
During EuroBasket 2017, Slovenia won its first gold medal going undefeated 9, 0 through the tournament. Luka Dončić scored eight points and grabbed seven rebounds before injury forced him out and was named to the competition's All-Tournament Team alongside Goran Dragić.