Saturday evening, Team Slovenia, led by LA Lakers superstar Luka Doncic, battled the extremely talented squad from France. And, despite playing against The Don, the French walked away with a 103-95 victory.
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The L wasn’t because of Luka, though. He had 39 points, 9 assists, and 8 rebounds in the game.
The loss came just days after Slovenia lost to Poland in the tournament opener on Thursday, and the 26-year-old star lost his temper with his team while trying to ignite their competitive spirit. Unfortunately, his words haven’t made a huge difference, at least not yet. Now Doncic is trying a different tactic.
Doncic spoke to the media after the France game and praised his teammates for playing hard. But he also gave kudos to France for their big win.
“Boys did a good job, everyone who stepped on the pitch gave their all. Like I said, France is a great team; unfortunately, we lost, but now we have to learn something from this defeat,” stated the NBA sensation.
Luka Dončić after loss vs France:
“Boys did a good job, everyone who stepped on the pitch gave their all. Like I said, France is a great team, unfortunately we lost, but now we have to learn something from this defeat. I know I lose my temper sometimes, but I try to help the… pic.twitter.com/M2hzvLxPzq
— Luka Updates (@LukaUpdates) August 30, 2025
He wasn’t done there either. Luka then addressed his short temper, claiming that it’s all in the best interest of Slovenia.
“I know I lose my temper sometimes, but I try to help the team. I do it all out of goodwill. No one wants anything bad, and I think we are getting better every day,” added Doncic.
After two games, both of which they lost, Slovenia are in fifth place in the six-team Group D, headed by France and Poland. The top four sides from the four groups advance to the Round of 16 stage of EuroBasket. So, getting back to winning ways is paramount, and Doncic knows it and is also driving to get the spirits up in the dressing room.
This proves how elite a competitor Luka can be. He was, on various occasions, criticized last NBA season for not giving it his all, particularly in defense. But this loss to France, and the way he is dealing with it, shows how passionate and motivated he is.
That competitive drive is also evident in how he’s transformed himself. Luka worked hard this summer to shed unnecessary weight and bulk up with muscle. He knows that if the Lakers want to go further than an opening-round playoff appearance, he’ll have to start winning in the trenches. Fortunately, he and LeBron will have some help.
The Purple and Gold have added Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart to the roster. That’s an addition of a big man, which is something they sorely lacked last playoffs, and a former DPOY to help improve their perimeter defense. Mix this in with a hungry and more fit Luka, and the 2025-2026 Lakers are going to be a team to keep your eye on.
