Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Luka Dončić

Discover the career path of Luka Dončić, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Luka Dončić is a Slovenian professional basketball player currently playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA. He has achieved significant recognition since his rookie season, earning five NBA All-Star selections and five All-NBA First Team honors. Dončić also represents the Slovenian national team and is celebrated as one of the greatest European basketball players ever.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Legacy & Impact

2006: First triple-double in the ACB since 2006-07 season

On May 9, 2018, Dončić recorded 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in 22 minutes against Real Betis Energía Plus, for the first triple-double in the ACB since the 2006–07 season.

September 2012: Signs with Real Madrid

In September 2012, at 13 years of age, Luka Dončić signed a five-year contract with Real Madrid and moved to Madrid.

December 2014: Dončić participates in friendly tournament in Hungary

In December 2014, Luka Dončić participated in a friendly tournament in Székesfehérvár, Hungary, averaging 35.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.

2014: ACB Season

During the 2014–15 ACB season, Luka Dončić played five games, averaging 1.6 points and 1.2 rebounds in 4.8 minutes per game.

2014: Plays with Real Madrid's Under-18 and Reserve Teams

In the 2014–15 season, Luka Dončić mainly played with Real Madrid's under-18 and reserve teams. He averaged 13.5 points with the reserve team, helping them win Group B of the Liga EBA.

April 30, 2015: Professional Debut for Real Madrid

On April 30, 2015, Luka Dončić made his professional debut for Real Madrid in the Liga ACB against Unicaja, becoming the youngest player to ever play for Real Madrid in the ACB.

October 8, 2015: NBA Preseason Game

On October 8, 2015, Luka Dončić played against the Boston Celtics in an NBA preseason game, collecting four rebounds, an assist, and a block.

2015: Debut for Real Madrid's Senior Team

In 2015, at age 16, Luka Dončić debuted for Real Madrid's senior team, becoming the youngest player in club history.

September 22, 2016: Dončić Announces Commitment to Slovenian National Team

On September 22, 2016, Luka Dončić publicly committed to representing the senior men's Slovenian national team for the duration of his career, foregoing opportunities to play for other national teams such as Serbia and Spain. Additionally, he formed a bond with Goran Dragić, who became his national team roommate, friend, and mentor after they first met when Dončić was seven years old.

September 30, 2016: 2016-17 Season Debut

On September 30, 2016, Luka Dončić made his 2016–17 season debut against Unicaja, recording six points and four assists in 19 minutes.

2016: Senior Debut for Slovenia

In 2016, at age 17, Luka Dončić made his senior debut for Slovenia.

October 1, 2017: 2017-18 Season Debut

On October 1, 2017, Luka Dončić recorded eight points, six rebounds, and four assists in a 94–88 victory over MoraBanc Andorra, marking his season debut.

2017: EuroBasket 2017 Victory and All-Tournament Selection

In 2017, Luka Dončić was a key member of the Slovenian team that won its first gold medal at EuroBasket with an undefeated record of 9-0. His notable performances included scoring 27 points against Latvia in the quarterfinals and contributing to the semifinal victory over Spain. Although injured in the final against Serbia, Slovenia won the tournament. Dončić's contributions were recognized with his selection to the All-Tournament Team.

2017: Winning streak from senior national team debut

In 2017, started a 17-match winning streak from the senior national team debut.

2017: Signs Deal with Nike

In 2017, while playing at Real Madrid, Luka Dončić signed a two-year deal with Nike.

June 21, 2018: Dončić drafted and traded to Mavericks

On June 21, 2018, Luka Dončić was drafted third overall by the Atlanta Hawks and then traded to the Dallas Mavericks for Trae Young and a 2019 first-round pick. The Mavericks' coach, Rick Carlisle, expressed excitement about acquiring Dončić as a franchise cornerstone.

June 29, 2018: Parting Ways with Real Madrid

On June 29, 2018, Luka Dončić officially parted ways with Real Madrid, marking the end of his time with the club.

October 17, 2018: Regular-season debut

On October 17, 2018, Luka Dončić made his NBA regular-season debut with the Dallas Mavericks, recording 10 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists in a 121–100 loss against the Phoenix Suns.

November 2018: Named NBA Rookie of the Month

In November 2018, Luka Dončić was named NBA Rookie of the Month in the Western Conference, marking an early career achievement.

December 2018: Named Western Conference Rookie of the Month

In December 2018, Luka Dončić was named Western Conference Rookie of the Month for the second consecutive month, solidifying his impressive start to his NBA career.

2018: Widely Regarded as Top NBA Prospect

Entering the 2018 NBA draft, Luka Dončić was recognized as one of the best and most accomplished European prospects of his generation. He was lauded as the "best international prospect ever" and the "most accomplished NBA prospect in decades" by various sports publications.

2018: NBA Draft and Trade to Mavericks

In 2018, Luka Dončić declared for the NBA draft, where he was drafted third overall by the Atlanta Hawks and subsequently traded to the Dallas Mavericks.

January 2019: Named Western Conference Rookie of the Month

In January 2019, Luka Dončić was named Western Conference Rookie of the Month, continuing his strong performance in his debut NBA season.

October 25, 2019: First triple-double of the season

On October 25, 2019, Luka Dončić recorded his first triple-double of the 2019-2020 season with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 123–116 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.

December 8, 2019: Consecutive games record

On December 8, 2019, Luka Dončić surpassed Michael Jordan's record for consecutive games with at least 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists since the ABA-NBA merger in 1976.

December 2019: Signs Endorsement Deal with Air Jordan

In December 2019, Luka Dončić signed a multi-year endorsement deal with Air Jordan, which included a signature shoe, the Jordan Luka 1.

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January 4, 2020: Tenth triple-double of the season

On January 4, 2020, Luka Dončić recorded his tenth triple-double of the season, accumulating 39 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 123-120 loss to the Charlotte Hornets.

July 31, 2020: Fifteenth triple-double of the season

On July 31, 2020, Luka Dončić recorded his 15th triple-double of the season, with 28 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists, in a 153–149 overtime loss to the Houston Rockets.

2020: Leads Slovenia to First Olympic Berth

In 2020, Luka Dončić led Slovenia to its first-ever Olympic berth during the FIBA Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Kaunas, Lithuania. He was named MVP of the tournament after leading Slovenia to a 96–85 victory over Lithuania, recording 31 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists in the final round.

February 6, 2021: Matches career-high in points

On February 6, 2021, Luka Dončić matched his then-career-high of 42 points, along with 11 assists and 7 rebounds, in a 134–132 victory over the Golden State Warriors.

July 26, 2021: Olympic Debut with Near-Record Performance

On July 26, 2021, in his Olympic debut, Luka Dončić scored 48 points in Slovenia's 118–100 victory over Argentina. This performance tied for the second-highest men's point total in a single game in Summer Olympics history.

August 10, 2021: Signed rookie extension

On August 10, 2021, Luka Dončić signed a five-year $207 million rookie extension with the Dallas Mavericks, which was the largest in NBA history at that time.

2023: Dončić Joins 200-Point Club and Named to All-Tournament Team

During the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, Luka Dončić became one of only 11 players to score over 200 points in a single tournament. He led all scorers with 27.0 points per game, also contributing 7.1 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 2.5 steals per game. Slovenia finished seventh, and Dončić was named to the World Cup All-Tournament Team.

2023: NBA Scoring Leader

During the 2023–24 season, Luka Dončić led the NBA in scoring, becoming the first European to achieve this feat. That season, he also led the Mavericks to their third NBA Finals appearance.

2023: Signs 6-Year Deal with Jordan

In 2023, Luka Dončić inked a 6-year deal with Jordan, solidifying the continuation of his Jordan Luka line.

May 15, 2024: Dončić delivers triple-double in Game 5

On May 15, 2024, Luka Dončić recorded his sixth career playoff triple-double with 31 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists in a 104–92 victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

2024: Slovenia Fails to Qualify for Paris Olympics

In 2024, the Slovenian basketball team, including Luka Dončić, did not qualify for the Paris Olympic Games after losing to the Greek basketball team by a score of 96–68 during the qualifying rounds, preventing their participation in the final phase.

2024: Trade to the Los Angeles Lakers

In the middle of the 2024–25 season, Luka Dončić was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in a controversial blockbuster trade, considered one of the most shocking in American sports history.

February 2, 2025: Dončić traded to Los Angeles Lakers

On February 2, 2025, Luka Dončić, along with Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris, was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Max Christie, Anthony Davis, and a 2029 first-round pick, a move considered significant and unexpected in NBA history.