Luka Dončić scolded his teammates after scoring 34 points in a heavy defeat! The national team coach said other players must take on more responsibility.

On August 26 Beijing time, according to European media Basketnews, after the 72-106 heavy defeat to Serbia, Dončić expressed frustration with the team’s performance and confronted his teammates in the dressing room.

In that match, Dončić managed just 17 points under intense defense; he made 2 out of 8 two-point attempts and 2 out of 10 three-point shots. After the game, Slovenia’s head coach Sekulić admitted Dončić showed clear signs of frustration during the match; he also stressed that if the team wants to perform well in the EuroBasket starting August 27, players other than Dončić must step up and take greater responsibility.

According to sports media SportKlub, Dončić’s frustration was not limited to the court — reportedly, he spoke harshly to his teammates in the closed locker room.

“I don’t like discussing internal team matters. Yes, we did have a conversation,” said Slovenian player Edo Murić. “We cleared up many issues and said what needed to be said. In fact, this loss brought us closer together.”

Dončić’s leadership qualities are emerging off the court as well, which is not surprising. Murić, who has been part of the Slovenian national team since 2011, previously told BasketNews that Dončić’s influence in the locker room is becoming increasingly significant.

“Yes, every year he is more willing to share his opinions and speak up,” Murić noted. “That’s exactly what we need from him. He is our leader and must take on that role both on and off the court. That’s why I say he’s maturing — he knows what he’s talking about, and it’s an honor to follow his lead.”

So far, Slovenia has finished the EuroBasket preparation phase with a 1-5 record in warm-up games, their only win coming against Great Britain. Additionally, the final 12-man roster for the 2025 EuroBasket has been confirmed.