Luka Dončić was born in the capital of Slovenia on February 28, 1999, and he’s been dominating the basketball world ever since. He began his basketball career in the youth program of Union Olimpija at age 13, where he quickly rose to prominence as one of the top players in Europe. In 2012, at just 13 years old, he became the youngest player to debut in the Adriatic League as well as becoming one of only three players ever born in the 1990s to start an NBA game by then. Get to Know Luka Doncic: The Slovenian Star Taking the NBA by Storm
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Early Life and Career
Luka Dončić was born on February 28, 1999 in Ljubljana, Slovenia. His father, Saša, played professional basketball and his mother is a former handball player. As a youth player for Union Olimpija, he was selected as the MVP at the 2016 Nike Hoop Summit and as a member of the All-Tournament Team at EuroBasket 2017. Get to Know Luka Doncic: The Slovenian Star Taking the NBA by Storm
Rise to Stardom
Dončić’s rise through the ranks of professional basketball has been nothing short of meteoric. He shone as a youth player for Union Olimpija before joining the youth academy of Real Madrid. In 2015, he was loaned to Real Madrid’s feeder club, Real Madrid B, and made his debut in Spain’s top-tier league Liga ACB. He went on to make his international debut at EuroBasket 2017.
Life off the Court
Dončić is a true all-around player, excelling on offense as well as defense. He is also a prolific passer and rebounder. He can finish around the hoop with either hand and has no qualms about shooting from beyond the arc. His ball-handling skills are exceptional for his size, and he’s just as comfortable playing with his back to the basket as he is in transition.
Why does Luka wear 77?
Luka wears number 77 because it was his favorite number when he was young. But, more importantly, it symbolizes his hometown of Ljubljana’s elevation above sea level and reflects his roots in Slovenia.
How tall is Luka?
At 2.03 meters, he is among the shortest players in the league (along with his teammate J.J. Barea). He stands out for his quickness and ball-handling skills, thanks to which he has been nicknamed The Dragonfly.
Luka was born on March 28th, 1998 in Ljubljana, Slovenia and started playing basketball at age
How many 3s did Luka make tonight?
Luka Dončić is only 19 years old and already one of the best players in the world. So, how did he get here? Born in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Dončić shone as a youth player for Union Olimpija before joining the youth academy of Real Madrid at age 13. From there, he progressed through Real’s ranks until 2017 when he was signed on a four-year contract with Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid.