Meet Luka Doni Slovenia's Rising Basketball Star

Luka Dončić is a rising star in the basketball world. At only eighteen, this young Slovenian player is already one of the most talked about newcomers in the sport. Luka currently plays for the Spanish team Real Madrid, which is widely considered the best team in the best basketball league outside of the NBA.

Born and raised in Ljubljana, Dončić is the only child of a former professional Slovenian Basketball player, Sasa Dončić. As a child, Luka was schooled in basketball on the asphalt courts of his hometown. He showed a lot of potential, and as soon as he was old enough, he joined the Union Olympia’s (Ljubljana’s Pro Team) junior division. His stay in Ljubljana was short. At the age of thirteen, Real Madrid offered him a five-year contract to come and play for their junior team. Coaches quickly realized that Dončić, despite his young age, was ready to play for their senior roster. In April 2015, he was the youngest player to debut in the Spanish professional basketball league, Liga ABC. In October of the same year, he proudly wore the team’s jersey while playing in Euro League, Europe’s top level basketball league.

His combination of skills, athleticism, basketball intelligence, and competitiveness at such a young age makes him a stand out among other talented basketball players. Dončić’s skills play a great role in him being considered as one of the top picks in the 2018 NBA draft. Playing in the NBA would make him only the tenth Slovenian player ever to be drafted into the best league in the world.

As Luka became a more well-known name in the world of basketball, questions about which national basketball team he would play for started to rise. Slovenia, Spain, and Serbia we just a couple of speculations. As per Spanish league rules, players under the age of 18 are not allowed to give interviews. That is why in September 2016, Dončić announced his decision via Tweet. He will play for the Slovenian national basketball team. In one of the first interviews he was permitted to give, Luka explained that he never considered playing for any other national team. Some minor injuries have prevented him from playing for Slovenia so far, but Dončić hopes that he will be able to join the rest of the national team this year at the EuroBasket tournament.

Though blessed with incredible talent, Dončić always emphasizes the importance of hard work. “Talent is fifteen percent, the rest is hard work.” With the dedication he has shown so far and the talent he possesses, there is no doubt that the future of Luka Dončić, a rising star in world basketball, is bright.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.