Luka Doncic Takes Blame for Slovenia’s FIBA World Cup Loss vs. Canada: 'It Starts With Me'

Mavs superstar Luka Doncic spoke to reporters after being ejected in Slovenia's FIBA World Cup loss to Canada.

MANILA, Philippines — Luka Doncic's Slovenia squad had a chance to advance to the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup Semifinals with a win over a Canada team led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Despite a 50-50 tied score at halftime, Slovenia lost the match, 100-89.

"First of all, congratulations to Canada," Doncic said. "They played great. Very physical game. They have one of the best players in the world, so it was really tough to guard him. I'm proud of my team. Everybody gave one hundred percent when we went out there. We should go back to the hotel with our heads up. I'm just proud of this team."

Doncic had his performance end with 6:37 remaining in regulation as a result of receiving a second technical foul — causing him to be automatically ejected. Despite recording 26 points, four rebounds, five assists, and two steals, the attention was placed on complaints to officials and the ejection.

"I think everybody know what my frustration was," Doncic said. "Playing for the national team, it's a lot of emotions. A lot of times I had control myself. I having problems with but you know, reference told one of the guys not going to call following him because he's coming at us. I think this is not fair.

"I know I complain a lot, but I don't think it's fair," Doncic explained. "They've been playing very physical with me, but if you say [what the official said], it's not fair."

Canada has no shortage of NBA talent beyond just Gilgeous-Alexander, including tough, physical wing defenders like Dillon Brooks and Luguentz Dort, plus a perimeter co-star in R.J. Barrett, along with frontcourt players, Dwight Powell and Kelly Olynyk. In addition, the team also has Nickeil Alexander-Walker to add further depth. Meanwhile, Slovenia's only NBA talent available to play after Vlatko Cancar's ACL tear is Doncic. 

Brooks was often the on-ball defender responsible for guarding Doncic. He brought physicality, along with Dort, when attempting to make things challenging on Doncic throughout the game. 

"I think Dillon played great," Doncic said of Brooks. "It is very physical, like he always does. A lot of people don't like him, but I respect him for what he does and he does that stuff."

FIBA

Doncic, who has now been ejected to end pivotal games in international play with Slovenia numerous times, acknowledged the need for him to have greater control over his emotions. However, he stated how passionate he is playing for the national team and how it comes with a lot of emotions.  

"It starts with me and I have to be better for my team with all emotions," Doncic said. "Like I said, playing for the country, you want to do your best and you want to die on there. It starts with me for sure."

Slovenia coach Aleksander Sekulic defended Doncic after his ejection, stating the difficulty of taking hits repeatedly as a high usage player, stating it's especially challenging when deserved foul calls are not made. 

"it's difficult to play a game you get hit constantly, all game on," Sekulic said of Doncic. "It is difficult to control the emotions and we work a lot on this, but it's very difficult and he has the ball a lot in his hands. It's frustrating to look up and you get tired from this, it's very difficult.

"I don't know if you could be in this situation and to understand this, but it's very difficult," Sekulic explained to a reporter. "That's why the emotions come up. I know it's not great, it doesn't look good, but it's very, very difficult and that's why it makes Luka so special because he's a great player and it's tough to guard him in a legal way."

Slovenia quickly returns to action on Thursday in a matchup against Lithuania.