Luka Doncic shuts down the critics with a EuroBasket best defender nomination

Here is a list of nominations that have brought FIBA Eurobasket 2025 into the limelight of everyone, with Luka Doncic being the very first nominee under the category of Best Defensive Player.

This tournament is planned to be held between the periods of August 27 and September 14, 2025, in Cyprus, Finland, Latvia, and Poland; with the participation of 24 teams of different countries in the European title.In honour of Slovenia, Doncic has demonstrated outstanding performances during the tough group stage and knockouts, assisting in propelling his team towards the next stage as well as displaying his defensive skill improvement.

Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic surprises with defensive energy in Poland

The importance of this nomination needs to be pointed out, in particular, since it strongly contrasts Doncic, who was a proven player in the NBA with defensive deficiencies as analysts frequently highlight in terms of high offensive workload and conditioning issues.Doncic has been a leader in steals, however, at EuroBasket 2025 he led the tournament in steals with an average of 3.2 steals per game during the group and early knockout stages, as well as providing blocks and his energy on defence has been consistently evident.

His scoring skills bloom, highest player in the EuroBasket prize list with 33.4 points per game, and defensive success provided 5 steals per game has made him become the first player in the history of the European game to score at least 30 points, 5 assists and 5 steals in a game. Such an unusual blend underlines the significance of his defensive input in a tournament in which he has a daunting offensive load.

Luka Doncic combines elite scoring efficiency with defensive hustle

During the group stage, Slovenia finished with a 3-2 record, securing a spot in the Round of 16.

Doncic put up impressive numbers, averaging 32.4 points, 8.0 rebounds, 8.4 assists, and 4.0 combined steals and blocks per game. He shot 44% from the field, 29% from beyond the arc, and 88% from the free-throw line, resulting in a true shooting percentage of 62.6%.In a remarkable game against Belgium on September 2, 2025, Luka Doncic notched 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists, making him just the fifth player in EuroBasket history to record a triple-double.

He then exploded for 42 points against Italy in the Round of 16 on September 7, 2025, leading Slovenia to the quarterfinals, even after dealing with a leg injury that he managed without missing much time.Luka Doncic performed defensively well as well, and there are multiple occasions where his steal skills endured to make it to the highlight reel, with the fines moments of 5 steals in a game where he scored 34 points going to the NBA official page.

French basketball outlet First Team noted on X that "Luka Doncic se fait remarquer par sa défense," translating to "Luka Doncic is getting noticed for his defense," in reference to his improved defensive play during the tournament.In a video post, Spanish content creator Pichu Ruas stressed that Luka Doncic's "greater defensive capacity, being much faster, and that sensation of no tiredness in games is his biggest change," shared on X on September 3, 2025.Also Read: Draymond Green drops the hammer with one word on Carmelo Anthony’s absurd claimThis defensive accolade at EuroBasket 2025, amid his offensive dominance, provides a comprehensive view of Doncic's capabilities as he prepares for the upcoming NBA season.