Apr 18, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd reacts during the third quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Teammate of Luka Doncic strangely calls out Mavericks' Jason Kidd

Originally posted on Dallas Mavericks on SI
By Austin Veazey | Last updated Aug 12, 2025 10:39 AM ET

The FIBA EuroBasket Tournament is getting ready to get underway, as friendly competitions have started tipping off. Slovenia has had a couple of matches against Germany already. The Group phase doesn't start until the end of the month, but one teammate of Luka Doncic is seemingly happy that they don't have Dallas Mavericks ' coach Jason Kidd.

"Aleksander Sekulic is by far the best choice for the Slovenian national team," Klemen Prepelic said to Sportklub. "He knows the guys, he knows the system, he knows what we need. He has shown that he belongs to the elite level. But I also have a very clear answer to all the criticisms. Jason Kidd is a bigger name, but he couldn’t control Doncic’s 'madness.'"

Aleksander Sekulic is the head coach of the Slovenian national team and has been since 2020. He's been in and around coaching for more than 20 years despite being 47 years old. As a coach, he's won a Czech Republic League championship in 2022, and a Slovenia League championship and won the Supercup in 2012.

The Jason Kidd mention seemed to come out of nowhere, as if there was any Mavericks coach who was going to be involved with the Slovenian national team, it was supposed to be Sean Sweeney. He was a part of the Olympics staff last year with Slovenia, but Doncic was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in February, and Sean Sweeney left to become the lead assistant with the San Antonio Spurs.

There was also talk about Daniel Gafford joining the Slovenian national team in some capacity, but that has yet to happen. Despite the trade, he and Doncic remain close, and they could be seen saying to each other in April's game that they'd play together again one day. Gafford just signed a new contract extension, but it's a tradeable number.

Luka Doncic's Performances Through Two EuroBasket Games

For the first time in nearly 30 years, the Mavericks don't have a European player on the roster, so there are no Mavs players competing in the FIBA EuroBasket competitions this offseason. That means Mavs fans may have to vicariously live through Doncic again.

Doncic didn't play in the second friendly game against Germany on Sunday, but in the first matchup on Friday, he had 19 points, 5 assists, and 3 rebounds in 24 minutes. Germany, led by Franz Wagner, Isaac Bonga, and Tristan da Silva, were able to take home the win 103-89.

This article first appeared on Dallas Mavericks on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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