Luka Doncic Nominated For Surprise Award At EuroBasket 2025

Luka Doncic underwent a major physical transformation this off-season, and it had many wondering just how much he could improve his game as a result in 2025/26. When asked, Doncic revealed that he'll likely just have a little more stamina and a little more speed, but apparently, there's more to it.

While representing Slovenia at the 2025 EuroBasket tournament, Doncic has shown major improvements on the defensive side of his game, something he's struggled greatly with in the NBA. However, Doncic took it to a level that few knew he had on that end of the court, so much so that he has been nominated for the Best Defender of the Tournament at EuroBasket, something that bodes well for the Lakers moving forward.

Sure, the competition on a nightly basis at EuroBasket may not quite be at the level of the NBA, but given how much Doncic has struggled defensively throughout his career, this is a major step forward for the star guard.

It will be an entirely new challenge for Doncic to take on Jalen Brunson, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Ja Morant, Steph Curry and some of the league's top guards on a nightly basis, but the improvement at EuroBasket simply can't be understated. Only time will tell whether or not this will translate to the nightly grind of the NBA, as some players are known to rise when playing for their country, but if he can improve defensively, the Lakers will be a genuine NBA title threat.