In early September, Luka Dončič, son of the well-known Olimpija basketball player Saša Dončič, at the age of only fifteen played his first official game for the senior team of the famous Real Madrid, a team whose players and coaches boast some of the most famous names in world basketball. And yes, in that game Dončič gained his first four points for the “royal” club.

Luka Dončič (born on 28 February 1999) first came into the spotlight early this year at the Under-17 Basketball Tournament, where he scored (not yet aged fifteen) a three-point shot from 15 meters against the Hungarian Székesfehérvár. Since then, the internet has been spilling over with videos of his amazing exploits starting in 2013, when he was proclaimed the best player at Real, which that year won the Mini Copa del Rey, the Spanish cup for cadet basketball teams. This Slovenian, who wears shirt number 17, was pronounced the best player of this year's (2014) final tournament of the Spanish cadet basketball championship; he was also the best shooter and the best passer. In short, he has been awarded all the prizes a basketball player can possibly get.

Dončič, a product of Ljubljana's Olimpija basketball school, first came to Madrid in September 2012 at the age of 13, following the path of one of the first stars of world basketball, Real's centre Nikola Mirotić, who moved to Madrid at the age of 14 and made his career there. He was the role model on which the Spaniards planned to shape Dončič's career. He is almost two meters tall (1.99 and still growing) and his game is reminiscent of the style of the legendary Croatian star Toni Kukoć, who during his carreer with Jugoplastika and the Chicago Bulls achieved everything that can be achieved in basketball. Dončič is able to cover the whole court, see a gap in the opposition’s defence and easily make his way to the basket, if necessary pass the ball to a team mate, or shoot a three-point shot. It is practically impossible to stop him as he is able to score a basket whenever he pleases, with extraordinary grace and speed. The Spanish media compare him to their "miracle boy" of recent years, Ricky Rubio, but we believe that a comparison with Kukoć is much more up to the mark.

Although he is already considered the "new Goran Dragić" by Slovenian basketball fans, Dončič has yet to play for Slovenia's cadet under-16 national team. He had already been selected for Slovenia's team at this year's U16 European Championship, but could not as he had to follow doctor's orders and rest to mend his knee injuries. After he turns 18 Spain's fans would like him to play for the Spanish national team, however, Luka has as yet never said anything about renouncing the aspiration and the right to represent the green and white colours of Slovenia's national team. Slovenian basketball fans and enthusiasts are anxious to finally see him play for the Slovenia national team, as we have rarely had the opportunity to see such a talent represent Slovenia. Real Madrid, which has already welcomed two Slovenians - Marko Milič (2000-2001) and Mirza Begić (2011-2013) – is a perfect environment that could offer him the ideal conditions to become one of the greatest stars of Slovenian basketball. We wish him all the best on this path.

Darijan Košir, SINFO