Luka Doncic Reveals Dream Retirement Scenario

As Lakers star Luka Doncic comes off a dominant EuroBasket campaign, new comments suggest he could return to other international roots once his time in the league is over.

Luka Doncic Reveals Dream Retirement Scenario

Doncic Would “For Sure” Consider Real Madrid Return

Doncic touched on a wide range of topics in a Sept. 16 interview with Jason Gay of The Wall Street Journal. However, one anecdote toward the end may have international basketball fans buzzing.

Though Doncic doesn’t see himself playing until 41 like LeBron James, he does envision a storybook ending to his career.

“Doncic does leave the door open to a sentimental possibility. I ask him if he’d consider playing for Real Madrid toward the end of his career, returning to where it all started. At first he demurs, saying he doesn’t know if he’d still have the physical tools.

“To play with Real Madrid, you have to be so good,” he says.

But the idea of finishing up there—a storyline the NBA, currently assembling a European league of its own, might love—does that have emotional appeal?

‘For sure,’ Luka says. ‘They raised me.’”

Doncic joined Real Madrid at 13 years old and spent six seasons with the club, joining the senior team at 16. He won a EuroLeague championship when he was 18, along with MVP and Final Four MVP honors—a storied history that paved the way toward his NBA career.

Other International Players Have Done the Same

Doncic is far from alone in desiring a return to Real Madrid, as other international players made similar moves over the years. While he and over a dozen Real Madrid players made the jump to the NBA, some have returned to the team after their time in the league was up—namely Facundo Campazzo, Gabriel Deck, and Usman Garuba, who did so in the last few years,

The club has also been no stranger to NBA star power, featuring Hall of Famers Arvydas Sabonis and Drazen Petrovic, among others. While Doncic’s goal is at least a decade away, it’s a laudable move for a superstar who’s savored the international spotlight.

For Now, Doncic Has One Goal in Mind

Before Luka can even think of representing Real Madrid again, he has his eyes on the prize when it comes to his NBA journey. According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Doncic has constantly reminded the Lakers of his championship goals, with a source close to him adding: “He trusts the front office to do their part, and he trusts what they’re building.”