The Dallas Mavericks suffered a massive blow against the Cleveland Cavaliers. They lost 121-119 tonight, especially on a night like Slovenian Heritage Night in Cleveland. It was supposed to be Luka Doncic‘s night, rather the story turned around with the Cavs getting the publicity. Doncic managed to finish the game with 45 points, 14 assists, and 9 rebounds, yet suffered a bitter loss.

Despite the loss, Luka doesn’t seem too distraught. As it turns out, the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse saw several Slovenian fans swarming the court, solely to showcase their love and support for the Slovenian basketball prodigy. And seeing these American immigrants going the extra mile to show their love meant a lot to Luka. “Oh, it’s crazy … even in Dallas, you have Slovenians, so I always put Slovenia first. I’m happy to represent this country. It was amazing to see,” he said.

Doncic’s love for his country and fellow natives is multiplied and returned to him in kind. People fly in to watch the “Luka Magic” happen in front of their eyes. And this has impacted the US and Slovenian markets positively. With the growing popularity of the Mavs sensation, more and more people are becoming curious about his home.

The Slovenian population in the USA is around 300,000, while unofficial estimates provide a higher number. But to all of them, Doncic has become the brand name in America. During the “I Feel Slovenia” night on January 22, 2024, at the American Airlines Center, the Slovenian Ambassador to the U.S., Iztok Mirosic, said that Luka Doncic was the biggest brand in the United States.

The Luka Doncic effect

The “I Feel Slovenia” was part of a partnership agreement with the Mavs to promote business, tourism, etc. It was a two-year agreement, and this year, many dignitaries had made the business trip to partake in the events. The economic boost Doncic has provided for both his country and Dallas is nothing short of remarkable.

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To provide a simple example, just last year, US tourists broke the 2019 record for overnight stays. This is, in large and unofficially, thanks to Luka. The “I Feel Slovenia” initiative, much like the Heritage Night, is just a few among the many. While there have been other popular names from Slovenia (think Melania Trump), the kind of curiosity that Luka Doncic awakens in the public is unique.

After all, the man himself is one of a kind. He has helped put Slovenia, a country 485 times smaller than the US, on the map.