Doncic recalls his most intense battles in the Euroleague

Before establishing himself as an NBA figure, Luka Doncic experienced the intensity of Euroleague basketball for three full seasons while wearing the Real Madrid jersey. His trips to Belgrade, Athens, and Barcelona allowed him to experience some of the most challenging and loudest environments of his sports career in Europe, a period that has left unforgettable memories for the player.

Red Star and a three-pointer that divided emotions

When SLAM magazine asked him which fanbase had been the most intimidating he faced during his time in the Euroleague, the name Red Star immediately came to Doncic's mind. However, he clarified that his relationship with the Serbian club was always different, marked by a special connection that he has acknowledged on multiple occasions.

"I would probably say Red Star, but not against me. They wanted me there, so it wasn't directed at me," the guard explained in the interview. This particular fondness for the Belgrade team was put to the test in March 2018, when Doncic was still playing as a shooting guard for the white team and executed one of those plays that get etched in the collective memory of the fans.

On that occasion, the then-young talent silenced the Aleksandar Nikolic Hall with a long three-pointer executed after a step-back move, sealing a victory by 82-79 with just 0.9 seconds left on the clock. The match took place before the Final Four of the competition, which added even more significance to the moment.

Mixed feelings in Belgrade

Doncic acknowledged that shot generated contradictory feelings due to his status as a Red Star fan. "It was before the Final Four, so it was a good play. It's very difficult to play in that arena," the player noted, who did not hesitate to admit the complexity of the situation.

"I’m also a fan of that team, so I wondered whether I should celebrate it or not. I actually didn’t celebrate, but it was a good moment," he confessed with a smile. This anecdote reflects the particular relationship that Doncic maintains with Serbian basketball and how, even in moments of maximum competitive pressure, his emotional connection with certain European teams remains intact.

The deafening atmosphere of the OAKA in Athens

Athens provided another one of those unforgettable memories that characterize a player's career in the Euroleague. During the first game of the 2018 playoffs, Panathinaikos defeated Madrid by a wide margin in a packed OAKA arena, creating an atmosphere of intensity rarely seen.

"I also played against Panathinaikos. We played in the quarter-finals and started the game losing 0-20; the atmosphere was deafening," recalled Doncic about that experience. The score of 0-20 against at the start of the game underscores the magnitude of the difficulty faced by the Madrid team, all under the acoustic pressure of a Greek crowd that continuously supported their team.

Barcelona, the home rival

When asked in which cities he experienced the most animosity from rival fans, Doncic responded with a bit of humor before pointing out the obvious. "Probably in many places," he joked, but quickly identified the clearest destination for any Real Madrid player: "Barcelona. They are rivals."

This response summarizes the nature of one of the most traditional and passionate rivalries in Spanish and European basketball. The rivalry between Madrid and Barcelona transcends the purely sporting aspect to become a cultural phenomenon that generates especially tense atmospheres in both cities.

The experience gained during those three seasons in the Euroleague was fundamental in Doncic's development as an elite player. Hostile environments, passionate fans, and high-stakes games contributed to shaping his competitive character and his ability to perform under pressure, qualities he later demonstrated in the NBA, where he has established himself as one of the most relevant figures in world basketball.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Doncic rememora sus duelos más intensos en la Euroliga