Luka Doncic’s Insane Triple-Double Shocks EuroBasket in Jaw-Dropping Lakers Star Performance

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Lakers star Luka Doncic of Slovenia reacts during the international basketball friendly match between Slovenia and Germany at Dvorana Stozice, on August 8, 2025 in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić made more EuroBasket history Sunday — and this time, it came with a victory.

Dončić delivered a triple-double of 26 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists to carry Slovenia past Belgium, 86-69, for its first win of the tournament. The victory kept Slovenia’s knockout-round hopes alive after a difficult start that included losses to France and Poland.

For Slovenia, the performance was a much-needed response. The team entered the tournament as a question mark after failing to medal in the 2023 FIBA World Cup and dropping five of their six warm-up games this summer. Dončić’s brilliance gave them renewed belief that a deep run is still possible.

Rare Triple-Double

Dončić joined an exclusive club by posting just the fifth triple-double in EuroBasket history. The others: Stojko Vrankovic (1993), Toni Kukoc (1995), Rares Mandache (2017) and Mateusz Ponitka (2022).

It also added to a growing list of milestones for the 26-year-old. Against Belgium, he surpassed 400 career points, 100 assists and 100 rebounds in EuroBasket play. He reached those marks in only 19 games — the fastest of any player in the 21st century.

At 26 years and 184 days, Dončić became the youngest since France’s Tony Parker in 2007 (25 years, 122 days) to reach the 400-point plateau.

Less than a day earlier, he had already etched his name into the record book by setting the single-game EuroBasket record for most free throws made in Slovenia’s 103-95 loss to France with 19.

Coach: ‘That’s Just What Luka Does’

Slovenia coach Aleksander Sekulić said he is no longer surprised by Dončić’s ability to deliver historic performances while keeping his focus on the team.

“That’s just what Luka does,” Sekulić told Slovenian reporters. “I only noticed after the game that he had recorded a triple-double, but what impressed me more was his approach. He never underestimated anyone and was locked in from the first to the last second.”

The coach emphasized that Dončić’s leadership goes beyond numbers.

“The most obvious thing about Luka is that he is extremely positive and motivated,” Sekulić said. “He constantly encourages the other guys, even in bad moments. Luka doesn’t care about individual numbers — he wants to lead a winning team, not just collect statistics.”

Slovenia in Control

Belgium opened the scoring with the game’s first basket, but Slovenia quickly took charge and never looked back. They led 16-10 after the first quarter and extended the margin steadily behind Dončić’s playmaking.

Outside of Dončić, nine more Slovenians scored in the win. Guard Klemen Prepelic added 12 points and five assists, while Leon Stergar added nine. Dončić also collected three steals, underscoring his all-around impact.

Belgium’s Andy van Vliet led his team with 15 points, but Slovenia’s balanced attack and Dončić’s control of the tempo proved too much.

What’s Next

The result moved Slovenia to 1-2 in Group B, where every win matters. To reach the knockout round, they will likely need to sweep their final two games.

Slovenia faces Iceland on Sept. 2, followed by a crucial showdown with Israel on Sept. 4. Iceland remains winless, while Israel stunned France 82-69 to improve to 2-1 and emerge as the group’s surprise contender.

Dončić’s historic night ensured Slovenia is still alive in the race. And with the Lakers star leading the way, Slovenia remains a dangerous team that no opponent can afford to overlook.

Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo