Slovenia may have struggled, but Luka Doncic has dominated EuroBasket 2025 individually.
After four games, Luka Doncic still tops the scoring leaderboard with 31.3 points per game while making a historic triple-double against Belgium with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists.
Even Iceland’s coach was surprised when Doncic only scored 26 points against his team, noting the Los Angeles Lakers star could have easily reached 50 points.
However, one key issue surrounding Doncic’s EuroBasket performance may concern Lakers fans.
Photo by Marcin Golba/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesLuka Doncic’s three-point struggles against weaker competition create troubling pattern
After four games, Doncic has struggled significantly with three-point shots, averaging only 27.5%.
Per game, he converts just 2.8 three-pointers out of 10 attempts, creating legitimate concerns about his shooting mechanics.
The struggles become more alarming considering Doncic faces weaker opposition compared to the NBA while shooting at the shorter FIBA three-point line.
These conditions should theoretically favor improved shooting percentages rather than career-low numbers.
Doncic never shot below 30% beyond the arc throughout his NBA career. Last season, he shot 37.9% from deep while making 3.6 threes out of 9.6 attempts on average.
That percentage ranked as the second-best of his career, trailing only the 2023-24 season when he and the Mavericks reached the NBA Finals.
His worst previous shooting percentage came during his sophomore year at 31.6% from three-point range, still significantly better than his current EuroBasket production.
Lakers’ three-point dependency makes Doncic’s shooting essential for success
Doncic needs to address this shooting issue since the Lakers rely heavily on his three-point production.
Last season, he led the team in made three-pointers, shouldering the primary responsibility for floor spacing.
Beyond Doncic, only Rui Hachimura shot better in terms of three-point percentage among regular contributors.
Dorian Finney-Smith provided additional shooting, but the forward will play with the Houston Rockets next season.
The departure of Finney-Smith places even greater emphasis on Doncic’s three-point consistency.
Lakers fans hope his EuroBasket struggles represent temporary mechanics issues rather than declining shooting ability heading into the crucial upcoming season.