Luka Dončić
Born 1999 · Age 26
Slovenian professional basketball player, EuroLeague and NBA star; multiple-time All-Star and All-NBA First Team selection; began career at Real Madrid before becoming an NBA superstar with the Dallas Mavericks and later traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Ljubljana, Slovenia
Born to Mirjam Poterbin and Saša Dončić in Ljubljana.
First contact with basketball (family anecdote)
Family reports he first touched a basketball at seven months and frequently played with a miniature hoop by age one.
Began organized basketball
Started playing organized basketball at a primary school in Ljubljana and practiced against older kids.
Parents filed for divorce; custody to mother
Parents Mirjam and Saša Dončić filed for divorce; custody and legal guardianship were granted to his mother.
Vasas Intesa Sanpaolo Cup MVP with Olimpija U14
Represented Olimpija U14 at Vasas Cup in Budapest; named tournament MVP despite finishing runners-up to FC Barcelona.
Loaned to Real Madrid for Minicopa Endesa (U14) – Tournament MVP
Loaned to Real Madrid for under-14 Minicopa Endesa; averaged 13.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 2.8 APG, 3.3 SPG and was tournament MVP.
Lido di Roma Tournament MVP and 54-point title game
Played under-13 Lido di Roma Tournament for Olimpija; was tournament MVP, leading scorer (34.5 PPG) and scored 54 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists in final.
Signed five-year contract with Real Madrid youth academy
At age 13 he signed a five-year contract and moved to Madrid to join Real Madrid's youth system.
Minicopa Endesa win and MVP with Real Madrid (U16 performance)
Led Real Madrid to a Minicopa Endesa win, averaging 24.5 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists and 6 steals; named MVP of tournament.
Under-16 Spain Championship MVP
Named MVP of the under-16 Spain Championship after scoring 25 points in the final vs Gran Canaria youth team.
FIBA Intercontinental Cup champion with Real Madrid
Part of Real Madrid's team that won the FIBA Intercontinental Cup (2015).
Professional debut for Real Madrid (Liga ACB)
Made senior Real Madrid debut against Unicaja at 16 years, 2 months, 2 days — the youngest in club ACB history.
EB Next Generation Tournament champion and MVP (U18)
Won the under-18 Next Generation Tournament and was selected MVP after defeating Crvena zvezda in final.
EuroLeague debut for Real Madrid
Debuted in the EuroLeague on October 16, 2015 — one of the youngest ever to debut in the competition.
Named youngest ACB Player of the Week and set under-17 ACB scoring/PIR records
Recorded season highs and set ACB records for players under age 17 during 2015–16/2016–17 seasons.
Senior Slovenia national team debut
Made senior debut for the Slovenian national team at age 17.
Youngest EuroLeague MVP of the Round (Dec 22 & Jan 14 wins)
Earned EuroLeague MVP of the Round honors (Dec 22, 2016) and again Jan 14, 2017; became the youngest to do so.
EuroLeague Rising Star and ACB Best Young Player (2017)
Named EuroLeague Rising Star (2017) and won the ACB Best Young Player award after breakout season.
EuroBasket 2017 — Slovenia gold and All-Tournament Team
Helped Slovenia win its first EuroBasket title and was named to the All-Tournament Team.
Assumed larger role at Real Madrid after Llull injury
Became a primary playmaker for Real Madrid following Sergio Llull's ACL injury, increasing minutes and production.
EuroLeague MVP and ACB MVP (2018)
Named EuroLeague MVP (youngest winner) and ACB Most Valuable Player after 2017–18 season.
EuroLeague champion and Final Four MVP
Led Real Madrid to the EuroLeague title (May 20); named EuroLeague Final Four MVP after scoring 15 points in the final.
Declared for and drafted in the 2018 NBA Draft (3rd overall)
Selected 3rd overall by the Atlanta Hawks and immediately traded to the Dallas Mavericks for Trae Young and a protected pick.
Parted ways with Real Madrid
Officially ended his senior club affiliation with Real Madrid on June 29, 2018 before joining the NBA.
Signed rookie contract with Dallas Mavericks
Signed his rookie NBA contract with the Mavericks (standard rookie scale for a top-3 pick).
NBA regular-season debut
Debuted for the Mavericks: 10 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists in loss to Phoenix Suns.
Named Western Conference Rookie of the Month (November 2018)
Earned NBA Western Conference Rookie of the Month for November 2018.
Youngest NBA player to make seven three-pointers in a game
Scored 34 points on December 28 and became the youngest player to hit seven threes in a single NBA game.
Euroscar Player of the Year (2019)
Awarded the Euroscar Player of the Year for performances in 2019 (listed among career highlights).
First NBA triple-double
Recorded 18 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists — became third-youngest player with a triple-double (19y,327d).
Youngest player with three career triple-doubles
Recorded third triple-double and overtook Magic Johnson to become the youngest player to reach three triple-doubles.
NBA Rookie of the Year and All-Rookie First Team (2019)
Unanimously selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team and named Rookie of the Year for the 2018–19 season.
Named to All-Seeding Games First Team (2020 bubble)
After the 2020 NBA bubble seeding games, selected to the All-Seeding Games First Team for averaging 30.0/10.1/9.7 line in eight games.
Selected to EuroLeague 2010–20 All-Decade Team
Nominated in November 2019 and selected to the EuroLeague 2010–2020 All-Decade Team in March 2020.
First NBA All-Star selection (2020) — Western Conference starter
Selected as a starter for the 2020 NBA All-Star Game; became the youngest European player to start an All-Star Game.
Youngest player with a 40-point playoff triple-double and buzzer-beating 3
Scored 43 points, 17 rebounds, 13 assists with a game-winning buzzer-beating three in OT vs Clippers (Aug 23, 2020).
Selected to All-NBA First Team (2020)
Named to the All-NBA First Team after the 2019–20 season; one of the youngest ever to earn the honor.
Named honorary member of Real Madrid (highest club distinction)
Real Madrid named Dončić an honorary member of the club on March 23, 2021.
Reached 5,000 NBA career points
Recorded his 5,000th career point on May 7, 2021 at age 22y 68d — fourth-youngest to reach milestone.
Selected to All-NBA First Team (2021)
Named to his second consecutive All-NBA First Team after the 2020–21 season.
Signed five-year, $207 million rookie extension
In August Dončić signed a five-year, $207 million rookie extension with the Mavericks — reported as the largest in NBA history at signing.
Became Mavericks franchise leader in career triple-doubles
On March 4, 2020 he passed Jason Kidd for the most career triple-doubles in Mavericks history; recognized as franchise leader thereafter.
Won Western Conference Player of the Month (Feb 2022 performances)
Named NBA Western Conference Player of the Month for February 2022 (third-career Player of the Month).
Selected to All-NBA First Team (2022)
Named to his third All-NBA First Team after leading Dallas to the Western Conference Finals.
Surpassed 7,000 career points in under 270 games
Became fourth player since the merger to reach 7,000 points in fewer than 270 games.
Historic 60-point, 21-rebound triple-double
Recorded a career-high 60 points and 21 rebounds with a triple-double — first 60-point, 20-rebound triple-double in NBA history.
Named Western Conference Player of the Month (Dec 2022 play)
Awarded Western Conference Player of the Month for December 2022 — third of his career.
Selected to All-NBA First Team (2023)
Named to his fourth consecutive All-NBA First Team for the 2022–23 season.
Season-opening 30-point triple-double (2023–24 opener)
Opened 2023–24 season with a triple-double: 33 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists — first Maverick with a 30-pt triple-double in season opener.
Reached 10,000 career regular-season points (Christmas Day performance)
Scored 50 points and 15 assists vs Phoenix Suns and reached 10,000 career regular-season points (fastest among active players at that time).
Led the NBA in scoring (NBA scoring champion, 2023–24)
Finished the 2023–24 season as the NBA scoring champion — first European to accomplish the feat.
All-NBA First Team selection (2024)
Named to his fifth consecutive All-NBA First Team (2020–2024).
Set Mavericks single-season points record (2023–24 season)
Ended the 2023–24 season with the most points in a single Mavericks season (franchise record).
Scored 73 points (franchise record)
Scored 73 points vs Atlanta Hawks, setting a Mavericks franchise single-game scoring record and tying for fourth-most in NBA history.
Led Dallas Mavericks to NBA Finals (2024)
Led the Mavericks to the 2024 NBA Finals (their third appearance), ultimately losing to the Boston Celtics in five games.
Appeared on Los Angeles Lakers roster and played in 2024–25 season
Listed as Lakers player number 77; played through the 2024–25 season (profile and games recorded on NBA.com).
Traded to Los Angeles Lakers (mid-2024–25 season)
Traded in a controversial blockbuster mid-season deal that sent Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers; widely described as one of the most shocking trades in American sports history.
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