Luka Dončić is one of the hottest names in basketball. As the ambassador of Slovenian tourism, Dončić represents his home country around the world with his charisma. Be it at a remarkable event on Lake Bled for the launch of his special basketball sneakers, his engagement to his long-time girlfriend Anamaria at Bled Castle or a sports and social event, I feel Slovenia Night, which has traditionally been hosted by his NBA team Dallas Mavericks in Texas, Dončić is winning the hearts of fans around the world with his sports skills and charming personality.
4 x NBA All-Star Game
2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020
3 x All-NBA First Team
2023, 2022, 2021, 2020
NBA Rookie of The Year and NBA All-Rookie First Team
2019
EuroLeague champion
2018
EuroLeague MVP
2018
All-EuroLeague First Team
2018
2 x EuroLeague Rising Star
2018, 2017
4th place at the Tokyo Olympic Games
2021
All-Star Five at the Tokyo Olympic Basketball Tournament
2021
MVP of the Tokyo Olympic Basketball Tournament by fan vote
2021
EuroBasket All-Tournament Team
2017
2017 EuroBasket Champions
2017
Other achievements of Luka Dončić
Despite living abroad since he was very young, Luka has not forgotten the country where his remarkable sporting career began. In the national team jersey, he has used his quick wits and talent to contribute to historic achievements in Slovenian basketball, such as becoming European champions in 2017 and qualifying for the Tokyo Olympic Games, where the Slovenian team finished 4th.
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Luka Dončić was the driving force behind the Slovenian national basketball team, which qualified for the Olympic Games for the first time in 2021. Dončić gave wings to the Slovenian basketball team that shone at the Tokyo Olympics, surprising more experienced teams such as Spain. In the end, the Slovenian team ran out of luck and, despite putting up an incredible fight and showing great heart and team spirit, finished just out of the podium places. Even so, 4th place is an amazing ranking for a first appearance at the Olympic Games. Luka was named one of the All-Star Five of the basketball tournament and even won the fan vote for MVP.
It’s definitely not easy. We fought till the end! What a pleasure it has been to play for our country in the first Olympics ever for us! So proud of these guys!
Luka Dončić on Twitter after the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
If you ask Luka Dončić for advice on what to see in Slovenia, he’ll likely suggest visiting his native Ljubljana first. But apart from the capital, he enjoys visiting the Alps and the coast.
Ljubljana. Vibrant. Lively. A city that combines the charm of a small capital and the confidence of big European cities.
Julian Alps - a paradise for active adventures and relaxation in nature.
Lake Bled and a castle perched on a cliff is one of the most beautiful Alpine resorts in Europe.
Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle are world-class attractions!
Spend your holiday on the Slovenian coast!
A WALK IN LJUBLJANA, MY BIRTHPLACE! WHEN I WANT TO SHOW SLOVENIA TO MY FRIENDS, IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO CHOOSE FROM AMONG ALL THE MANY BEAUTIFUL PLACES. THE GORENJSKA REGION WITH ITS STUNNING VIEWS OF THE ALPS, BLED, THE POSTOJNA CAVE AND, OF COURSE, THE COAST ARE ALWAYS THE WINNING CHOICES.
Luka Dončić – basketball player, NBA superstar, Slovenia Men National Team member
Luka Dončić spent his childhood in Ljubljana. This lively European capital with an abundance of green spaces and sports infrastructure offers many opportunities for sporting activities. Let us offer you some suggestions for an active visit to Ljubljana.
One of the most popular places for both indoor sports and outdoor activities is Tivoli Park. The sports park has halls and infrastructure for a variety of athletic activities, and from there you can also take a hike to the nearby Rožnik hill. If you are not a sports enthusiast, you can walk along the Jakopič Promenade and other walking paths and rest under the shade of trees in summer. Other sports parks, such as Kodeljevo Sports Park or Ljubljana Sports Park, also offer a broad variety of activities.
MoreOne of the most popular places for both indoor sports and outdoor activities is Tivoli Park. The sports park has halls and infrastructure for a variety of athletic activities, and from there you can also take a hike to the nearby Rožnik hill. If you are not a sports enthusiast, you can walk along the Jakopič Promenade and other walking paths and rest under the shade of trees in summer. Other sports parks, such as Kodeljevo Sports Park or Ljubljana Sports Park, also offer a broad variety of activities.
MoreIf you like, you can watch an interesting game at the Stožice Stadium or the Stožice Arena, the two largest sports venues in Slovenia, which also host other spectacular events, such as concerts and various performances.
MoreYou can discover Ljubljana's lively streets and squares by bicycle, choosing between a regular or electric bicycle. The city centre, which is characterised by the masterpieces of architect Jože Plečnik, is another place well worth visiting. You can also explore other parts of Ljubljana and discover interesting hidden spots around the city.
MoreWould you like to see Ljubljana's sights from the river? Get on a stand up paddle board and paddle along the Ljubljanica River or take a tourist boat tour along the river.
MoreFrom Ljubljana, you can head on foot or by bicycle to the nearby hills that offer views of the city and its surroundings. Some of the most popular hiking destinations that are only a short distance from Ljubljana are Šmarna Gora, Katarina, Rožnik or Golovec, or you can travel a few kilometres away from the city and visit Velika planina, Kurešček, Sveta Ana or Krim.
MoreWHEN I WAS A CHILD, LJUBLJANA, THE CITY OF MY CHILDHOOD, HAD PLENTY OF PLAYGROUNDS AND BASKETBALL COURTS. I SPENT MOST OF MY TIME ON THE PLAYGROUND NEAR MY HOME, OF COURSE. BUT WHEN THIS PASSION GRABS YOU, YOU SEE BASKETS EVERYWHERE! IN SLOVENIA, WHICH IS A HIGHLY FORESTED COUNTRY, THERE'S NOTHING BETTER THAN RUNNING ALONG A FOREST TRAIL TO DISCONNECT AND IMMERSE YOURSELF IN NATURE.
Luka Dončić about Ljubljana
We Slovenians are known for being a very sporty people. We love outdoor activities in nature such as cycling and water sports. In winter, when the snow falls, we take advantage of the snow to enjoy skiing, cross-country skiing, and other winter thrills.
With his versatility, creativity and brilliant play, Luka, nicknamed "the Wonder Boy", has won the hearts of basketball fans all across the globe.
He has shown exceptional talent and love for basketball from a very early age. A basketball was the first thing on his birthday list since he was little. Although he has tried other sports, his first love remains basketball, at which he has always excelled.
In his early teens, he tasted the joy of playing on the European stage and was hailed by experts as one of the greatest talents in Slovenia and Europe. At 13 years of age, Luka wore the jersey of Spanish giant Real Madrid, with whom he became a European club champion in the 2017/2018 season when he was voted EuroLeague's most valuable player. At the 2018 NBA draft, the Atlanta Hawks selected Dončić as their third overall pick and then traded him to the Dallas Mavericks; Dončić thus became the highest ranking Slovenian in the history of the NBA draft.
Alongside Luka Dončić another Slovenian basketball player, Goran Dragić, wearing the jersey of Eastern Conference club Milwaukee Bucks, has been thrilling basketball fans in the NBA in recent years. In the 2017/18 season he was the first Slovenian to play his way into the NBA All-Star Game. Although Goran and Luka would be rivals in the All-Star Game, they are good acquaintances and friends. In the Slovenian national team jersey the two basketball players celebrated together the Eurobasket championship title in 2017 and were selected among the tournament’s best five players for the all-tournament team. Dragič was also voted Eurobasket MVP. They joined forces yet again at the EuroBasket 2022 and led Slovenia among the top eight basketball teams in Europe.
A basketball spectacle took place at Bled in autumn 2023. The event featured new basketball sneakers named Air Jordan Luka 2 “Lake Bled”, which were the result of cooperation between Luka Dončić and the legendary Jordan brand. At the same time, a 3x3 basketball tournament was held on a floating basketball court in the middle of Lake Bled.
His home country of Slovenia is a place where Dončić returns with his young family after a busy NBA competition season. Luka Magic makes the most of every opportunity to enjoy the beautiful sights of Slovenia and showcases them to his friends and fans.
Besides Luka Dončić, Slovenia has several other world-class athletes who excel in their respective sports. During their varied competitions they’re accompanied by passionate fans who create a warm and supportive atmosphere for their heroes. Do you want to know the formula for the sporting success of Slovenia, with a population of just two million people?
Experience the active Slovenia and get to know its sporting heart.
We present some reasons why Slovenia is successful in the field of sports.
Ljubljana, the hometown of Luka Dončić, is an ideal base from which to explore the rest of Slovenia and its diversity. Whether you head off to the sea, the Alps or the Pannonian plain, the journey will not take more than two hours. See the major sights and treasures of Slovenian heritage and experience the most unforgettable adventures.
Discover the world of active outdoor adventures in Slovenia.
Small towns for big adventures.
Must-see attractions in green Slovenia!
In its small corner of the world, Slovenia is the only European country lying at the crossroads of the Alps, the Mediterranean, the Karst and the Pannonian Plain.
Enter the world of original adventures.
From luxury hotels to tourist farms, from private rooms to camping grounds. An exclusive offer of glamping accommodation or staying at the vineyard cottages. In Slovenia, you will find accommodation to suit every budget and every taste.
Plan your holidays in green.
Feel the beneficial effects of the green natural environment in Slovenia.
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