Slovenia coach comments on Luka Doncic performance and says Kristaps Porzingis apologized

Slovenia coach on Luka Doncic’s performance vs Latvia

Doncic was undeniably the best player on the court as he finished the game with 26 points, 5 assists, and 2 steals to his name.

Slovenia coach Aleksander Sekulic spoke about Doncic’s performance after the 12-point defeat.

“The start of the game was a dream. Doncic was fantastic, he played himself and everyone around him. But it’s true that it’s difficult to play all the time at such a pace against a team like Latvia with excellent scorers and the versatile Porzingis.

“We started the second half very poorly. We came out of the locker room too soft, indecisive, and allowed our opponent to play,” coach Sekulic said via Zurnal24.

Doncic’s abrupt exit due to an injury blow also played a role in the defeat, as coach Sekulic addressed it as well.

“We were left without Doncic, but we still responded well to the hosts’ lead and were right on their heels until the end,” he added.

Kristaps Porzingis apologized after the game, says Aleksander Sekulic

Fans watching the friendly matchup were quick to notice Slovenia’s unfair whistle at the start of the second half.

The additional shots from the charity stripe allowed Latvia to erase Slovenia’s first-quarter lead and gain the upper hand.

“If it weren’t for those few black minutes at the beginning of the second half, the game could have turned the other way, and it’s certainly not just the referees who were very biased, to say the least.

“After the game, even Porzingis apologized to us for the poor refereeing,” Sekulic concluded.

Porzingis apologizing to Slovenia’s players and coaches speaks volumes about the biased refereeing. Fans will hope to see a better whistle for Doncic and co. during the 2025 EuroBasket.