A raucous crowd is expected in Katowice as Poland hosts Slovenia in a first-round FIBA EuroBasket 2025 game. Lakers owner Jeanie Buss, general manager Rob Pelinka and other Los Angeles executives flew roughly 6,000 miles to show support for Luka Doncic. Doncic was traded from Dallas for Anthony Davis, signed a three-year, $165 million extension, and has career averages of 28.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.2 assists. Slovenia lacks several key players, increasing the scoring and leadership burden on Doncic. Poland features Aleksander Balcerowski and Mateusz Ponitka. The tournament features Europe’s top national teams and multiple NBA stars.
and others from Los Angeles made the 6,000-mile, 12-hour flight to support the cornerstone of the Lakers' future. "We just wanted to make a statement to Luka that we support what he does for his country," Pelinka told Dan Woike of The Athletic in Poland. "That's really important to the Lakers when we have a player that's the face of our franchise, just to show that support for him. And it's just great to see him with his teammates, interacting, having fun."
The five-time All-NBA guard has averaged 28.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.2 assists a game during his seven year career. Poland upset Slovenia in the EuroBasket 2022 quarterfinals, has two stars in Aleksander Balcerowski and Mateusz Ponitka. Slovenia is missing several key players - Josh Nebo, Vlatko Čančar, Jaka Blažič and Zoran Dragić - putting pressue on Doncic to carry the team. The tournament brings together Europe's top national teams. Besides Doncic, NBA stars participating include Kristaps Porziņģis, Nikola Jokic and Alperen Sengun.
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