Before becoming a global superstar thanks to his phenomenal performances with the Dallas Mavericks, Luka Doncic was one of the biggest stars in Europe despite having only been 18 years old. He led Real Madrid, the most decorated club in Europe, to only their second EuroLeague title in 23 years, winning both regular season and Final MVP awards along the way.
He also led them as MVP to the Spanish league title, the second strongest European competition right after the EuroLeague, which was already his third one overall. In a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar reflected on the idea of finishing his career with the Spanish powerhouse.
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“To play with Real Madrid, you have to be so good,” he said. “For sure, they raised me.”
Luka ruled Europe basektball as a teen
Doncic joined Real Madrid’s youth academy at a very young age, moving there at just 14 without knowing a word of Spanish or English. However, Real Madrid’s education program for young athletes helped him adapt quickly. What also helped him was that several other kids from the region were in the academy so they helped with the language barrier.
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Returning to his earlier success, it’s worth mentioning that in 2017, together with Goran Dragic, Luka brought Slovenia their first-ever EuroBasket gold. At 18, he practically conquered Europe on both a team and an individual level. However, that didn’t stop Charles Barkley from dismissing all of Doncic’s pre-NBA accomplishments.
“I don’t trust foreign competition. I don’t have nothing against foreign players. I just don’t know what kind of a competition it is. They’re like, at 18 years old, he was the MVP. Well, that tells me he was playing against shi—y competition. Nobody at 18 should be dominating grown men. I don’t care how bad the grown men are,” said the Hall of Famer on the Planet Pollard podcast via Eurohoops.
Doncic’s heart will always stay tied to Real Madrid
Even if Barkley may have had a point, the league quickly realized that Luka wasn’t like other kids but something truly special. In his rookie season, he was already dominant, ultimately winning Rookie of the Year. He quickly established himself as one of the toughest mathups in the league and a player whose basketball IQ lifts everyone who plays with him.
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Still, no matter how bright the NBA lights shine, his heart will always stay tied to Real Madrid, something Luka Magic has never tried to hide. The fact that he wants to retire there should surprise no one, since it was the club that took him in as a boy, turned him into a man and prepared him for all the challenges the world had to offer.
Teaser: Doncic doesn’t see his career ending in the NBA.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 20, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.