Sometimes the president’s role extends to preventing fights from escalating. That’s what Luka Doncic‘s father had to do over the weekend. He stopped a former nine-year NBA veteran and current Ilirija star at the very last moment. With a place in the Slovenian Basketball League finals at stake to face Cedevita Olimpija, the NBA’s gentle giant, Boban Marjanovic, got upset, and multiple people had to block him.

Marjanovic’s team was down 83-63, and he was trying to close the gap. He was double-teamed in the fourth quarter and went to the ground, but the foul was never called. Taking exception to the hit, the 7-feet-4 star ran back and straight into Krka’s Blaž Mahkovic. As Mahkovic went down, Marjanovic stood right beside him, arguing. As a result, he received his marching orders from the hardwood.

As Marjanovic exited, the Krka fans at Leon Stukelj Hall in Novo Mesto, Slovenia, taunted him with chants and celebrations. He angrily pointed at them and had a heated exchange. Things went so far that at one point it looked like he would take matters into his own hands, ready to cross the barricade and attack the supporters. But Sasa Doncic stepped in at the right moment and tried to talk some sense into the 37-year-old. The current president held both of Marjanovic’s hands against the barricades to avoid any dust-up.

The video shows Luka’s father saying something in Marjanovic’s ear to calm him down. The former NBA player finished the game with a double-double, recording 12 points and 15 rebounds, as his season concluded. With his ejection, the task for the comeback was even more difficult as Ilirija lost Game 3 of the semifinals 97-74.

Luka Doncic was a bystander when Boban Marjanovic was ready to throw hands last time

In December 2025, when Marjanovic signed with Ilirija, he was returning to the ABA League after a decade. His previous stint was in 2015 with Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade. He spent multiple tenures with NBA teams, including three years (2019-2022) as teammates with Luka Doncic. The typically composed, gentle giant got frustrated in the conference semifinals game against the top-seeded Suns. It was an upset in their favor in Game 7, but right at the end, Bobi lost his cool.

The Western Conference Semifinals were about to be over with a scoreline of 123-90. But then Aaron Holiday stole the ball and converted a three-pointer that violated basketball’s unwritten code of conduct. Naturally, Marjanovic was irate and charged toward Holiday. After a little pushing and shoving, the assistant coaches took him back. Luka Doncic was on the bench at the time and was quick to stop the opposing Suns player from escalating it further.

It was Luka then, and now his father, Sasa, who has also developed a close friendship with Marjanovic. That is reportedly the reason Ilirija actually recruited the former NBA star.