There was no doubt that Luka Doncic was going to do everything possible to be with Slovenia in the Olympic Qualifiers. The point guard finished the NBA final very physically affected, but his commitment to his national team is absolute. This Monday, he has joined the concentration and has already participated in some training. Although prudence asks him to rest and take care of his battered physique, his intention is to try to take his team to other Games.
During the final against the Celtics, Doncic had to play dragging problems in the right knee and left ankle in addition to suffering a blow to the thorax. In some of the meetings his presence was doubtful and he was seen wearing ice packs and bandages on various parts of his anatomy.
Added to these physical ailments is accumulated fatigue. He has played 3,523 minutes throughout the 92 games of the season: 70 in the regular league and 22 more in the playoffs. No one has spent more time on the court during the title playoffs and in the regular season he had the second highest average of minutes (37.5), only behind DeMar DeRozan.
Despite this, Doncic aims for the Pre-Olympic. It was included in the preselection and was never deleted. He did question his participation, although it seems increasingly clear. The tournament will begin on June 2, just 14 days after game five of the final against the Celtics. The point guard will arrive at the appointment with hardly any rest.
Slovenia will participate in the very tough Pre-Olympic of Piraeus. In the first phase, you will face Croatia and New Zealand, and, if he gets into the semi-finals, he will face Egypt, the Dominican Republic or the host Greece, which will be attended by Giannis Antetokounmpo. Only the champion of each tournament will attend the Paris Games.
The Mavericks, the team that pays Doncic, what do they say about their star putting his physique in danger? In Dallas, they have assumed that if the player wants, he will play. After being included in the best quintet of the competition, he can sign a contract extension for almost 350 million dollars in the summer of 2025. That relationship for five seasons would lead him to earn $78.8 million in the 2030-31 financial year.