Luka Doncic has been in the headlines all summer, not only for signing a three year 165 million dollar extension with the Lakers but also for showing up to Slovenia’s EuroBasket 2025 camp looking leaner and sharper after dropping close to 31 pounds. The 26 year old guard has been splitting time between national team prep and offseason conditioning, and every step of his journey has drawn attention from Los Angeles.

The relationship between NBA teams and international basketball has always been a delicate dance of priorities. Franchises invest millions in their star players and naturally want to protect those assets during the offseason. This often creates tension when those same stars feel a deep national pride and commit to representing their countries in tournaments like the FIBA EuroBasket. The Los Angeles Lakers, however, are taking a strikingly different approach with Luka Doncic. Slovenia opens EuroBasket play on August 28. That puts Doncic at the center of one of the busiest basketball calendars of any NBA superstar. The question being whether the Lakers would push back or allow him full freedom.

@basketnews gave the answer on X with a video that put the speculation to bed. In the clip, Pelinka claims, “Zero problems. I mean, it’s just something that we believe in… the Lakers organization and their leadership and their executives have been great. It’s been a collaborative partnership with them. We had one of our Los Angeles Lakers coaches, coach Greg St. Jean, added to the staff just for support. So we’ll continue to support Luka throughout his career, so he can do great things for the Lakers and for the Slovenian national team.”

The arrangement is rare and shows the franchise’s commitment. St. Jean, who previously worked with Doncic in Dallas and rejoined the Lakers staff last year, is now on Slovenia’s bench. Reports confirmed he was added to closely monitor and guide Doncic through the tournament. The timing is key. Doncic dropped 31 pounds in the offseason, aiming to improve his defense and durability. And St. Jean has been tracking that progress. For the Lakers, his fitness and continuity outweigh the risk of injury.

Doncic is cleared to return after the scare against Latvia, where he scored 26 first half points before limping off. Slovenia opens EuroBasket in Katowice on August 28, facing a group that includes France, Belgium, Iceland, and Israel. For the Lakers, Pelinka’s decision ensures their star remains engaged with his country while being supported by a familiar coach. The Lakers’ embrace of international basketball represents a modern approach to player management that recognizes the value of these experiences beyond the court.

But as this collaboration strengthens in Slovenia, a different storyline is brewing back in Dallas. This supportive environment stands in sharp contrast to the subtle criticism emerging from Slovenian circles regarding Dončić’s previous NBA coach.

Mavs head coach facing Slovenian heat

Slovenian veteran Klemen Prepelic added fuel to the fire by praising Aleksander Sekulic and taking a subtle shot at Jason Kidd, saying “Jason Kidd may be a bigger name, but he couldn’t control Luka’s ‘madness”. That line matters because it underscores how Slovenia wants Luka playing free and joyful basketball, not tightly managed systems. Prepelic praised current Slovenian coach Aleksander Sekulic for understanding how to maximize Dončić’s talents while allowing his creative freedom to flourish.

Prepelic’s comments highlighted a fundamental difference in coaching philosophies, noting that some systems try to limit Dončić’s instinctual playmaking. “Luka has to be playful. He has to enjoy himself,” Prepelic stated, adding that restrictive systems ultimately hinder rather than help their superstar. These remarks, while not directly naming Kidd, clearly reference the coaching environment Dončić experienced during his time with the Mavericks.

The contrast between the Lakers’ supportive infrastructure and the implied criticism of previous management creates an interesting narrative about player development approaches. Where one organization sees value in embracing international competition, previous management apparently struggled to harness Dončić’s unique talents effectively. This divergence in philosophy highlights why the Lakers believe they can unlock the best version of their new franchise face.

Bottom line? Luka’s summer with Slovenia is backed publicly by the Lakers. And that backing from Rob Pelinka and staff presence reshapes the talk around control, while turning the spotlight back to coaching fit and player freedom.