Slovenia to Limit Luka Doncic Minutes vs. Spain, Team USA?

Luka Doncic and Slovenia are set to take on Spain and Team USA in consecutive days. How many minutes will he play?

Luka Doncic and the Slovenian national team has matchups against two elite opponents in preparatory matches in Malaga this weekend, including against Spain on Friday and Team USA on Saturday.

While Slovenia's two matchups are against marquee opponents, it remains to be seen how long the Dallas Mavericks superstar will play, given they are scheduled as a back-to-back. Additionally, neither of those exhibition matchups actually count for anything other than for reps ahead of facing Group F in Japan.

“It’s a good question, but (playing extended minutes) is one of the things you have to learn to do to get ready for the (FIBA World Cup),” Slovenian national team coach Aleksander Sekulic told The Athletic. “Even though in the tournament there is always a day between games, nevertheless there is going to be motivation (to play Doncic on Friday and Saturday) for sure. But we also have to be smart with load management for Luka. Not only him but everybody else, but of course Luka is our main player.”

There remains a need to ensure the appropriate workload for Doncic is in place as opposed to be overburdening him in exhibition matches. He is coming off a performance featuring 34 points, 13 rebounds, and 14 assists in a narrow victory over Nikola Vucevic's Montenegro squad. 

“We talk a lot about protecting him, limiting his minutes,” Sekulic said.

Regardless of how long Doncic plays, gaining reps against top competition amid the team's ongoing need to overcome the loss of Vlatko Cancar to a torn ACL could prove helpful.

Given how versatile Team USA's defense is with Jaren Jackson Jr. in the frontcourt and no shortage of wing defenders that can guard multiple positions, the unit around Doncic will need to see how it can overcome him being heavily pressured. Also, Slovenia's defense has been under-par in exhibition matches and there isn't a stress test better than tipping off against top teams in consecutive games.

Regardless, a matchup against Team USA would place Doncic and his former backcourt partner, Jalen Brunson, who departed the Dallas Mavericks following the team's run to the 2022 Western Conference Finals. 

Slovenia is set to take on Spain at 1:30 p.m. CST in Malaga. 

---

Grant Afseth is a Dallas Mavericks reporter for DallasBasketball.com and an NBA reporter for NBA Analysis Network. He previously covered the Indiana Pacers and NBA for CNHI's Kokomo Tribune and various NBA teams for USA TODAY Sports Media Group. Follow him on Twitter (@grantafseth), Facebook (@grantgafseth), and YouTube (@grantafseth).

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Dallas Mavericks? Click Here. Follow DallasBasketball.com on Twitter and Facebook.