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Lakers, Mavericks Personnel Joining Luka Doncic on Slovenian Team

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Alex Kirschenbaum | Last updated Jul 5, 2025 7:34 AM ET

Five-time All-NBA first team Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic will be joined by two new familiar faces on the Slovenian national team.

The 6-foot-6 pro, 26, is gearing up for EuroBasket competition this summer.

Doncic grappled with a calf injury for much of the 2024-25 season, and was limited to just 50 healthy games. A surprise midseason acquisition for the Lakers, Doncic played just 28 bouts in L.A.

When healthy, he still put up numbers that would be the envy of pretty much anybody else. Doncic averaged 28.2 points while slashing .438/.379/.791, 8.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 1.6 steals a night.

Ex-Dallas Mavericks general manager Donnie Nelson, the man who traded for Doncic's draft rights in the 2018 NBA draft, will serve as the Slovenian team's special advisor, reports Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

Stein notes that Nelson has previously logged significant team with the Lithuanian national team.

Former Mavericks general manager Donnie Nelson has been named as a special adviser to Slovenia's national team ... reuniting him with Luka Dončić.

Nelson has a long history in the international game working with Lithuania’s national team. https://t.co/VRv9cMe1cw
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 4, 2025

Stein adds that a current Lakers assistant coach under JJ Redick, Greg St. Jean, will join the Slovenian team, too, for EuroBasket player.

As Stein notes, this will enable Doncic to "have a daily Lakers presence alongside him" as he plays during the offseason. This summer, Doncic will be eligible to sign a long-term maximum extension with Los Angeles.

Slovenia has also hired Lakers assistant coach Greg St. Jean as a member of its coaching staff for the upcoming EuroBasket campaign — for the second time — so Dončić can have a daily Lakers presence alongside him later this summer.

More NBA: https://t.co/HpE639WN7H https://t.co/vb7jfztyMh
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 4, 2025

The Lakers no doubt hope that Doncic will sign a four-season, $228.6 million contract extension to linger with the team long-term.

If he doesn't, Doncic has a $49 million player option for the 2026-27 season, meaning he could become an unrestricted free agent as soon as next summer.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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