LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA - AUGUST 8: Luka Doncic of Slovenia reacts during the international basketball friendly match between Slovenia and Germany at Dvorana Stozice, on August 8, 2025 in Ljubljana, Slovenia. (Photo by Jurij Kodrun/Getty Images) LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA - AUGUST 8: Luka Doncic of Slovenia reacts during the international basketball friendly match between Slovenia and Germany at Dvorana Stozice, on August 8, 2025 in Ljubljana, Slovenia. (Photo by Jurij Kodrun/Getty Images)

Luka Doncic Avoids Serious Knee Injury In Slovenia’s Loss To Latvia

Originally posted on Lakers Nation | By Matthew Valento | Last updated Aug 16, 2025 2:01 PM ET

This summer has been an important one for new Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic as he got himself in tremendous shape to prepare for next season.

After a shocking departure from the Dallas Mavericks, the Slovenian guard is looking to prove a lot of people wrong and this summer’s EuroBasket tournament is a chance to showcase how great of shape he is in after completely transforming his body.

Of course representing his country means a lot to Doncic, but so far, Slovenia has struggled in its exhibition games. After Saturday’s 100-88 loss to Latvia, they have fallen to 0-4 and to add insult to injury, the 26-year-old suffered what appeared to be a knee injury early in the third quarter:

Luka appeared to injure himself on this play and went back to the locker room.

(via @LukaUpdates) pic.twitter.com/n1ENEbRaAk

— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) August 16, 2025

Before that, Doncic was putting together a great game with 26 points, four rebounds and five assists in the first half. Thankfully, it looks like he has avoided anything serious to his right knee, via Dan Woike of The Athletic:

Source tells me that he's avoided any serious injury on the play. https://t.co/UtFc5hGPxo

— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) August 16, 2025

This was a scenario of a true freak accident as one of his teammates tried to put himself in position for an offensive foul and went back in Doncic’s knee. Due to how fast he flew back into the Lakers star, it is a sigh of relief that nothing traumatic happened because that could have led to a significant injury.

What has yet to be revealed is the kind of ailment Doncic is dealing with and whether he will be sidelined the rest of EuroBasket. Perhaps a conversation arises between the Lakers and the face of the franchise to mutually shut him down to preserve him for this upcoming NBA season.

At the end of the day, Doncic dodged a bullet by not sustaining a major injury. After being looked at in the locker room, he returned to the court and watched the rest of the game from Slovenia’s bench and appeared to be in good spirits. He even tried to come back in the game, although his coaches understandably did not allow it.

Slovenian teammate credits Luka Doncic for growing as leader

As Luka Doncic embraces a new chapter with the Lakers, he now is the face of a historic franchise. With that comes immense responsibilities as he needs to lead L.A. for years to come.

Up to this point, Doncic was not seen as a vocal leader, but one of his Slovenian teammates credited him for growing in that regard.

This article first appeared on Los Angeles Lakers on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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